But the lady, at that moment, took the gentleman's arm, and moved away. Lady Sarah followed her, with the view of obtaining another look. Fanny went to Sir Francis, and told him. He showed himself hard of belief.
"You cannot be sure at this distance of time, Fanny. And, besides, more bracelets than one may have been made of that pattern."
"I am so certain, that I feel as if I could swear to the bracelet," eagerly replied Lady Frances.
"Hush, hush, Fanny."
"I recollect it perfectly: the bracelet struck me the moment I saw it. How singular that I should have been talking to Gerard Hope about it tonight!"
Sir Francis smiled. "Imagination is very deceptive, Frances. Your having spoken to Mr. Hope of the bracelet brought it into your thoughts."
"But it could not have brought it to my eyes," returned the girl. "Stuff and nonsense about imagination, Francis Netherleigh! I am positive it is the bracelet. Here comes Sarah."
"I suppose Frances has been telling you," observed Lady Sarah to her brother-in-law. "I feel convinced it is my own bracelet."
"But—as I have just remarked to Frances—other bracelets may have been made precisely similar to yours," he urged.
"If it is mine, the initials 'S. H.' are scratched on the back of the middle star. I did it one day with a penknife."