'I was just about to explain that this stone has been lying for years among the jewellery which poor uncle Ford bequeathed to me.

I thought it a pity that such a beautiful stone should lie unnoticed any longer.' 'Oh, a great pity!' they all cried.
'I should not have supposed that poor dear uncle Ford possessed such a rare thing,' said the wife of the dean.
'It is very curious you never mentioned it before,' said Eliza.
But Eliza was not in favour.
'Not at all,' said Mrs.Moore; 'I take very little interest in such things.

Life is too short to allow our attention to be diverted from serious things by mere ornaments.' 'That is very true,' said the dean.
Violetta broke through the little circle to show her lover the ring.
'Look,' she said, holding up her pretty hand.

'Isn't it lovely?
Isn't mamma very kind ?' The curate turned his eyes from the fire with an effort.

He had been listening to all they said in a state of dreamy surprise.