Marjorie Bowen

“ Then Mrs. Bracegirdle laughed. “For what? Lud, don't they always teach country misses that players are—impossible?”
He stared at her with a passionate face; she put her hand quickly on his arm.
“My lord—my lord, we have not the excuse of ignorance if we forget this is St. James's,” she breathed. “They are beginning to stare.” Then aloud, “Come and see these famous pearls, my lord.”
His look gave assent to her wisdom and her charm: in stately fashion they came down the gallery a pace behind the Marchioness. ”

“ Then a little sharp colour flamed into her face. How did the Marchioness think of her? “Present me to an actress!” she had cried, and with genuine horror in her tone. Did she share the opinion of the country dames who held “actress” one with “vice”? Did she hold her, in her genteel parlance, a “bad woman”? Ah! it was over; and, “Fie on all this for a mere man!” thought Mrs. Bracegirdle, as the curricle paused before her door. ”

“ Gallantry has limits; 'tis a fine thing to fight for a rose, a foolish thing to spend a fortune on a toy; though both have the same end, to please a woman, the first is easier and more prudent—especially if one have lost more than he could afford the night before at the Cocoa Tree, have just bought my lady a curricle or a black page, or given a masquerade to startle St. James's,
Mrs. Bracegirdle's smile deepened; she wondered if any of the suitors who had praised her charms as beyond price would buy the pearls for her. It was Christmastide, and so a fair excuse for a gift. ”

“ Lady Joan was in Samuel's yesterday afternoon, and the pearls were gone, she says.”
“Well!” said the Marchioness, with desperate eyes.
“Well, there are not many men in London able to buy them, and I heard my lord say yesterday—to her——”
My lady interrupted, colouring proudly. “You are a gossip, Kate.”
The friend tossed her head. “Oh! if you care to submit so vastly tamely to be slighted and neglected for a pert madam from the theatre—ruddled with red and white to the eyes, too.”
“Mrs. Bracegirdle is not painted,” said the Marchioness coldly. “She may be wicked, but she is beautiful.” ”

“ She laughed at her thought. There were many of these gallants in the shop now; one of them vowed that black pearls were an abortion, hideous; another said they were vastly unbecoming; a third declared frankly: “Split and sink me! the price is purely impossible.”
Mrs, Bracegirdle was choosing china; an assistant brought the pieces and laid them for her inspection on an oak table before her; since every one crowded round the pearls, and she had dismissed the few who followed, she was almost alone with her brother in the dark corner of the shop. ”

“ She kissed each of the pearls with trembling lips; she was a different woman; the hard look left her face, the proud repression was gone from her mouth. Ah! he did well to stare her down when she resented so his mere civility to Mrs. Bracegirdle. She blushed for her rustic manners and vowed to make amends; then, stepping to the mirror, she fastened the necklace round her throat.
As she stood so, she saw in the looking-glass the door open and the Marquess enter.
He advanced into the room, swinging his cane by the tassels, his hat under his arm ”

“ He——
His note was brief, written evidently in Samuel's shop on a leaf of his note-book.
“Sweet Ann,—
“We did part something unkindly, Will you wear these sometimes, thinking of me—ah! not unkindly? Will you accept them, so showing that you smile again on your devoted servant? Sweet Ann, in charity!”
Pride and joy fired her cheek. He had bought them for her; he had given them magnificently, as if they were merely roses or ribbons. Instantly on her momentary triumph followed shame, nay, anger. ”

“ She was assured of that—the Marquess did not court her because she was the toast of the town and a famous actress—he loved her; she had thought he would marry her—that had been the bourne of all her possible happiness; then into her paradise had come a lady from the country, a pale young Marchioness with indignant eyes.... Alas!
Mrs. Bracegirdle, leaning on her brother's arm, came to a point where, round a glass case, a crowd fluttered. “They are looking at something wonderful—it will not trouble me ”

“ Carelessly the Marquess put up his glass and looked at the pearls,
“The lady who receives them will know she has a devoted lover,” smiled Mrs. Bracegirdle. “The price, good Lud, Is prodigious!”
She uttered a mere commonplace; but he took her up instantly.
“Are they still unsold, then?” His grey eyes flashed to her face.
“They are the most beautiful jewels in England,” she said, “and should be worn by the most beautiful of women!”
He rested his glass against his chin, studying her. “A brunette!”
The strained laughter of the Marchioness came across the shop. Mrs. ”