"Certainly," she answered, looking up at him.
"I should deem it a favour," he continued. "If the world does not
get what it expects, I imagine it will begin to inquire why; and if
it cannot find reasons it will make them."
In due course the diamond crescent arrived.
"It is rather nice of the old thing," was Millicent's comment. She
held the jewel at various angles in various lights. There was no
doubt that this was the handsomest present she had received--sent
direct from the jeweller's shop with an uncompromising card inside
the case. She never saw the irony of it; but Sir John had probably
not expected that she would. He enjoyed it alone--as he enjoyed or
endured most things.
Lady Cantourne examined it with some curiosity.
"I have never seen such beautiful diamonds," she said simply.
There were other presents to be opened and examined. For the
invitations had not been sent out, and many were willing to pay
handsomely for the privilege of being mentioned among the guests.
It is, one finds, after the invitations have been issued that the
presents begin to fall off.
But on this particular morning the other presents fell on barren
ground. Millicent only half heeded them. She could not lay the
diamond crescent finally aside. Some people have the power of
imparting a little piece of their individuality to their letters,
and even to a commonplace gift.
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