She showed them what a dark beauty can do in a blaze of light with a red rose, and a few thousand pounds' worth of diamonds artfully placed.
She danced with several partners, and took Percy in his turn.

She was gracious to him, but nothing more.
Percy asked leave to call next day.
She assented, rather coldly.
His sister prepared Percy for the call.

The first thing he did was to stammer intolerably.
"Oh," said Julia, "if you have nothing more to say than that, I have--Where is my bracelet ?" "It's here," said Percy, producing it eagerly.

Julia smiled.
"My necklace ?" "Here!" "My charms ?" "Here!" "My specimens of your spelling?
Love spells, eh ?" "Here--all here." "No, they are not," said Julia, snatching them, "they are here." And she stuffed both her pockets with them.
"And the engaged ring," said Percy, radiant now, and producing it, "d-d-don't forget that." Julia began to hesitate.

"If I put that on, it will be for life." "Yes, it will," said Percy.
"Then give me a moment to think." After due consideration she said what she had made up her mind to say long before.
"Percy, you're a man of honor.