"He was like her shadow in London last winter," she said. "Azalia refused him, but he would not take no for an answer, and Lord and Lady Ivon are in hopes she will reconsider her decision, as the match is a good one, even for their great-granddaughter."
Every word was a thorn in his heart. He began to realize something of what Jewel's jealousy was to her in the strange pain that racked his heart.
Then he tried to reason with himself. He never could be anything to Azalia Brooke, even if she were not so cold and proud. He belonged to Jewel Fielding, and she had made him understand very plainly that it would not be a safe plan for him to break with her now.
Suddenly the Earl of Clive made his appearance in Boston. He had crossed the Atlantic in order to be near the lady of his heart.
He was young, rich, and good-looking—a trifle arrogant, perhaps, but one with so many gifts of this life has some cause for vanity.
He devoted himself with ardor to Azalia Brooke, causing more than one gallant admirer to think, indignantly:
"Were there no beauteous maids at home,
And no true lovers here,
That he must cross the seas to win
The dearest of the dear?"
Jewel Fielding was very glad that Azalia Brooke's titled lover had come upon the scene.
The beautiful brunette was by no means blind to the state of her lover's feelings. She was half maddened with her bitter jealousy of her betrothed and her hatred of Azalia Brooke.
She hoped that Laurie would see the futility of his passion now that Lord Clive had come.