ough for a duchess, though not
bright enough for the handsomest woman in the world." And he took the
case out of his pocket in which the jewels were, and presented them to
his cousin.

She gave a cry of delight, for the stones were indeed very handsome,
and of great value; and the next minute the necklace was where Belinda's
cross is in Mr. Pope's admirable poem, and glittering on the whitest and
most perfectly-shaped neck in all England.

The girl's delight at receiving these trinkets was so great, that after
rushing to the looking-glass and examining the effect they produced upon
that fair neck which they surrounded, Beatrix was running back with her
arms extended, and was perhaps for paying her cousin with a price, that
he would have liked no doubt to receive from those beautiful rosy
lips of hers, but at this moment the door opened, and his Grace the
bridegroom elect was announced.

He looked very black upon Mr. Esmond, to whom he made a very low bow
indeed, and kissed the hand of each lady in his most ceremonious manner.
He had come in his chair from the palace hard by, and wore his two stars
of the Garter and the Thistle.

"Look, my Lord Duke," says Mistress Beatrix, advancing to him, and
showing the diamonds on her breast.

"Diamonds," says his Grace. "Hm! they seem pretty."

"They are a present on my marriage," says Beatrix.

"From her Majesty?" asks the Duke. "The Queen is very good."

"From my cousin Henry--from our cousin Henry"--cry both the ladies in a
breath.

"I have not the honor of knowing the gentleman. I thought that my Lord
Castlewood had no brother: and that on your ladyship's side there were
no nephews."

"From our cousin, Colonel Henry Esmond, my lord," says Beatrix, taking
the Colonel's hand very bravely,--"who was left guardian to us by our
father, and who has a hundred times shown his love and friendship for
our family."

"The Duchess of Hamilton receives no diamonds but from her husband,
madam," says the Duke--"may I pray you to restore these to Mr. Esmond?"

"Beatrix Esmond may receive a present from our kinsman and benefactor,
my Lord Duke," says Lady Castlewood, with an air of great dignity. "She
is my daughter yet: and if her mother sanctions the gift--no one else
hath the right to question it."

"Kinsman and benefactor!" says the Duke. "I know of no kinsman: and I do
not choose that my wife should have for benefactor a--"

"My lord!" says Colonel Esmond.

"I am not her