"No, I haven't, Miss. I haven't come for my own pleasure at all. I have
come for the credit of the family, if any good can be done towards saving
it. You've got your husband's diamonds locked up somewhere, and you must
give them back."
"My husband's diamonds were my diamonds," said Lizzie stoutly.
"They were family diamonds, Eustace diamonds, heirlooms--old property
belonging to the Eustaces, just like their estates. Sir Florian didn't
give 'em away, and couldn't, and wouldn't if he could. Such things ain't
given away in that fashion. It's all nonsense, and you must give them up."
"Who says so?"
"I say so."
"That's nothing, Aunt Penelope."
"Nothing, is it? You'll see. Mr. Camperdown says so. All the world will
say so. If you don't take care, you'll find yourself brought into a court
of law, my dear, and a jury will say so. That's what it will come to. What
good will they do you? You can't sell them; and, as a widow, you can't
wear 'em. If you marry again, you wouldn't disgrace your husband by going
about showing off the Eustace diamonds. But you don't know anything about
'proper feelings.'"
"I know every bit as much as you do, Aunt Penelope, and I don't want you
to teach me.
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