Of the manner in which the diamonds had been placed in her hands, no one knew more than she chose to tell.
But when she started with her house in town,--a modest little house in Mount Street, near the park,--just two years after her husband's death, she had a large circle of acquaintances.

The Eustace people, and the Greystock people, and even the Linlithgow people, did not entirely turn their backs on her.

The countess, indeed, was very venomous, as she well might be; but then the countess was known for her venom.

The dean and his family were still anxious that she should be encouraged to discreet living, and, though they feared many things, thought that they had no ground for open complaint.

The Eustace people were forbearing, and hoped the best.