Belgravi

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MY AUNT'S PEARL RING BY ADA BUISSON, AUTHOR OF PUT TO THE TEST, ETC. That pearl ring, Mabel, ?you prefer that to all the others ? I fancied my aunt spoke in a slightly regretful tone, although she had emptied the contents of her little jewel-casket into my lap so carelessly, and bid me select the trinket...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MY AUNT'S PEARL RING BY ADA BUISSON, AUTHOR OF PUT TO THE TEST, ETC. That pearl ring, Mabel, ?you prefer that to all the others ? I fancied my aunt spoke in a slightly regretful tone, although she had emptied the contents of her little jewel-casket into my lap so carelessly, and bid me select the trinket which should be her gift to me on my approaching wedding-day. You know I have a strange fancy for pearls, aunt; but if you have the slightest affection for this ring, I would not take it for the world;?and indeed, I added, setting the delicate little circlet aside, and turning again to its more glittering fellows, I daresay I can find one which pleases me equally amidst such a collection. But with a little hasty movement my aunt threw it back, saying, No, no, my dear; if you like it, take it. I have no affection for it. Heaven knows I have little cause ever to wish to see it or hear of it again. And then, seeing that I looked up in some amazement at her unusual energy, she added, with almost a scornful smile, What are jewels to me now? We were silent a moment or two, and somehow I felt that-, in spite of the quiet manner with which my still beautiful aunt sank back in her chair and resumed her embroidery, I had inadvertently touched on some painful memory, and roused some emotion which it required all her strength of will to repress. She was no ordinary character, as I well knew. Self-possessed and reserved to a remarkable degree, she had always inspired me with more awe and respect than loving confidence; but as she sat there, with the evening light falling on her delicate face, her lips firmly compressed, her brows slightly frowning, something seemed suddenly to thaw my heart towards her; and in spite of her frigid manner, I drew closer to h...