Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
THEY MADE A CHARMING GROUP.
AUNT MILLY'S
DIAMONDS
BY
RUTH LAMB
R.T.S., 4 Bouverie Street, London, E.C.
CONTENTS
Chap.
AUNT MILLY'S
DIAMONDS
CHAPTER I
GRANDMAMMA'S STORY
"YES, children, I will tell you the story of Aunt Milly's diamonds; andin telling about them, you must hear the tale of my own life almost,because one is so mixed up with the other that they can scarcely beseparated."
The speaker, an old lady, looked pleasantly at a group ofgrandchildren, her Christmas visitors; who, tired with many a merrygame, were clustering round her and asking for the story.
It was Christmas Eve, and they had been making the old hall atDenesfield Manor ring with happy voices. And now, in the dim twilighthour, they came into the drawing-room, and begged that before the gaswas lighted, Grandmamma would tell them all about "those diamonds."
A charming group they made. The girls with their young, fair faces, andstreaming curls, the boys full of life and strength and fun; yet all soloving to the silver-haired lady who delighted to see them round her athappy Christmastide.
Picture them for yourselves; some, the elder girls, demurely seated,ready to listen; two little ones on footstools by Grandmamma's knees,each holding a hand tenderly imprisoned; the lads just stretched hereand there upon the rug, while on their upturned faces the blaze of aChristmas fire shone and danced merrily.
But listen. Grandmamma is beginning her story:
Aunt Milly and my own dear mother were sisters; but there was a greatdifference in their ages, and still more in their worldly positions. Myaunt married, while very young, the owner of Denesfield Manor, wherewe are now gathered to spend our Christmas, you know, children. Herhusband, Squire Dene, was a very rich man, and the diamonds you haveheard so much about were his wedding-gift to Aunt Milly. They wereworth many thousands of pounds, and were talked about all over thecounty.
But though they were so much admired, both for their cost and beauty, Ido not think anybody envied Aunt Milly the possession of them.
You know, dears, there is a great difference in the way persons usejewels. If people think themselves the better for possessing them, andlook down upon their neighbours because they cannot have such costlythings, they show a foolish pride and a wrong spirit.
But if they look upon them as beautiful things tha