Only this one passion for jewels and precious stones had touched her deeply as yet.

Of love she knew little beyond the name and its aspect in others.

She was familiar enough with that, so familiar that she gave little heed to what lay behind the aspect--or had given little heed until to-night.

Her husband she had accepted rather than actively welcomed.

She had lived with him in a mood of placid and unquestioning good-humour, and she had greatly missed him when he died.