"Some of them might be reset for Beatrice and Lillian." Lady Helena rang for her maid, and the heavy cases of jewelry were brought down.

Beatrice was in raptures with them, and her sister smiled at her admiration.
The jewels might have sufficed for a king's ransom; the diamonds were of the first water; the rubies flashed crimson; delicate pearls gleamed palely upon their velvet beds; there were emeralds of priceless value.
One of the most beautiful and costly jewels was an entire suite of opals intermixed with small diamonds.
"These," said Lord Earle, raising the precious stones in his hands, "are of immense value.

Some of the finest opals ever seen are in this necklace; they were taken from the crown of an Indian price and bequeathed to one of our ancestors.

So much is said about the unlucky stone--the pierre du malheur, as the French call the opal--that I did not care so much for them." "Give me the opals, papa," said Beatrice, laughing; "I have no superstitious fears about them.

Bright and beautiful jewels always seemed to me one of the necessaries of life.