e say this to
her visitor, but she showed her feeling very plainly. Frank was
courteous, cold, and resolute in presuming, or pretending to presume,
that as a matter of course the marriage would take place. Lady Fawn
intended to be civil, but she could not restrain her feeling; and
though she did not dare to say that her son would have nothing more
to do with Lizzie Eustace, she showed very plainly that she intended
to work with that object. Of course, the two did not part as cordial
friends, and of course poor Lucy perceived that it was so.

Before the meeting took place, Mr. Camperdown had been at work,
looking over old deeds. It is undoubtedly the case that things often
become complicated which, from the greatness of their importance,
should have been kept clear as running water. The diamonds in
question had been bought, with other jewels, by Sir Florian's
grandfather, on the occasion of his marriage with the daughter of a
certain duke,--on which occasion old family jewels, which were said
to have been heirlooms, were sold or given in exchange as part value
for those then purchased. This grandfather, who had also been Sir
Florian in his time, had expressly stated in his will that these
jewels were to be regarded as an heirloom in the family, and had
as such left them to his eldest son, and to that son's eldest son,
should such a child be born. His eldest son had possessed them, but
not that son's son. There was such an Eustace born, but he had died
before his father. The younger son of that old Sir Florian had then
succeeded, as Sir Thomas, and he was the father of that Florian who
had married Lizzie Eustace. That last Sir Florian had therefore been
the fourth in succession from the old Sir Florian by whom the will
had been made, and who had directed that these jewels should be
regarded as heirlooms in the family. The two intermediate baronets
had made no allusion to the diamonds in any deeds executed by them.
Indeed, Sir Florian's father had died without a will. There were
other jewels, larger but much less valuable than the diamonds, still
in the hands of the Messrs. Garnett, as to which no question was
raised. The late Sir Florian had, by his will, left all the property
in his house at Portray to his widow, but all property elsewhere to
his heir. This was what Mr. Camperdown had at last learned, but he
had been forced to admit to himself, while learning this, that there
was confusion.

He was confident enough, h