last words, which
are no secrets, and are only a parting benediction accompanying a present
for your marriage from an old gentleman your guardian; for I feel as if I
was the guardian of all the family, and an old, old fellow that is fit to
be the grandfather of you all; and in this character let me make my lady
duchess her wedding present. They are the diamonds my father's widow left
me. I had thought Beatrix might have had them a year ago; but they are
good enough 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 Mrs. 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 honour 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