She had received the message with scorn,--with a mixture of scorn and gratitude,--of scorn in regard to the man who had promised to marry her, and of affectionate gratitude to the cousin who had made the arrangement.
"Of course I shall not wish to see him while he chooses to entertain such an idea," she had said, "but I shall not keep out of his way.
You would not wish me to keep out of his way, Frank ?" When she received a card for Lady Glencora's party, very soon after this, she was careful to answer it in such a manner as to impress Lady Glencora with a remembrance of her assent.

Lord Fawn would probably be there,--unless he remained away in order to avoid her.

Then she had ten days in which to make up her mind as to wearing the diamonds.

Her courage was good; but then her ignorance was so great! She did not know whether Mr.Camperdown might not contrive to have them taken by violence from her neck, even on Lady Glencora's stairs.

Her best security,--so she thought,--would be in the fact that Mr.Camperdown would not know of her purpose.