Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/99

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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
97

course, put it in her hand, saying, "she was afraid it would be found too small."

All the work-boxes of the sisters had been presents of Mr. Glentworth's, and were exactly alike, so that there was not the slightest difficulty in opening Georgiana's box with Helen's key, and Lady Anne was not long in finding a small satin bag, in which was placed her one precious love-letter, in the folds of which was found a brilliant ring of such extraordinary beauty and apparent value as to be perfectly dazzling. "Oh, oh! Certainly, it must be said the sailor has done the thing handsomely; if he is drowned she has got something to remember him by. Not that the thing is fit for so young a girl at all. Doubtless this has been a prize. If I thought it were a family jewel I would not touch it, of course; but that is out of the question, for Lord Meersbrook would have been the possessor in that case. No! it is some transaction of the sailor's, so I shall take it and sell it; it is a surer card than the Count's horse a good deal, for it will fetch two hundred pounds from a jeweller at least. However, as she knows nothing of its worth, yet may have a great value for it, suppose I put her one into the letter, just to kiss and to cry over."

Lady Anne generally wore a great many rings, and she drew from her hand one of little value, but which