Almost next door he saw in a jeweller's window a necklace of small pearls priced at three hundred pounds, and probably worth about half that amount.

Having quite a handsome balance at his back, he came to the conclusion that he could afford this and, going in, bought it at once, oblivious of the fact that Isobel already had ropes of pearls the size of marrowfat peas.

However, she was delighted with it, especially when she saw what it had cost him, for he had never thought to cut the sale ticket from the necklace.

It was those pearls, and not the marrowfat peas, that Isobel wore upon her wedding day.

Save for the little ring with the two turquoise hearts, these were her only ornament.
A question arose as to where the honeymoon, or so much as would remain of one, was to be spent.