Even before he touched the spring and the top flew open, Ella knew what was coming.
"Our diamonds!" she exclaimed.

"The Ashleigh diamonds!" The necklace lay exposed to view, the wonderful stones flashing in the subdued light.

Ella gazed at it, speechless.
"In New York," Lord Ashleigh continued, "it is the custom to wear jewellery in public more, even, than in this country.

The family pearls, which I myself should have thought more suitable, went, as you know, to your elder sister upon her marriage.

I am not rich enough to invest large sums of money in the purchase of precious stones, yet, on the other hand, your mother and I feel that if you are to wear jewels at all, we should like you to wear something of historic value, jewels which are associated with the history of your own house.