"I'm proud to see you, Miss, and that I will say. Set down, Miss, do now, and I'll light up the fire in a twinkling." "No, you needn't," said Flower. "I'm hot; I'm burning. Feel me; a fire would drive me wild." "To be sure, so you are, all in a fever like," said Mrs. Ricketts, laying her rough hand for a moment on Flower's dainty arm. "You'll let me light up the bit of a paraffin lamp, then, Miss, for it ain't often as I have the chance of seeing a young lady come all the way from Australy." "You can light the lamp, if you like," said Flower. "And you can stare at me as much as you please. I'm just like any one else, only wickeder. I've come to you, Mrs. Ricketts, because you're Maggie's mother, and Maggie's a good girl, and I thought perhaps you would help me." "I'm obligated for the words of praise about my daughter, Miss. Yes, she don't mean bad, Maggie don't. What can I do to help you, Miss? Anything in my power you are kindly welcome to." "Have you ever seen a diamond, Mrs. Ricketts?" "I don't know, I'm sure, Miss." "Diamonds are very valuable stones, you know." "Maybe, Miss. They ain't in my way. I wish you'd let me light you a bit of fire, Miss Flower. You'll have the chills presently, Miss, for you're all of a burning fever now." "You can do anything you like in the way of fire by-and-by. I have a diamond here. Shall I show it to you?" "Oh, law, Miss, I'm sure you are condescending." "Come over close to the paraffin lamp. Now you shall see. Doesn't it sparkle!" Mrs. Ricketts dropped a curtsey to the gem, which, unpolished as it was, cast forth strange reflections, giving her, as she afterwards explained, a "queer feel" and a sense of chill down the marrow of her back. "This is very valuable," said Flower. "I don't know what it is worth, but my father gave it to my mother, and she gave it to me. She said it would be well for me to have it in case of emergency. Emergency has come, and I want to sell this stone. It is very likely that whoever buys it from me will become rich. Would you like it? You shall have it for what money you have in the house." "Oh, law, Miss! but I'm a very poor woman, Miss." Mrs. Ricketts curtseyed again, and drew closer. "For all the world, it looks as if it were alive, Miss." "All valuable diamonds look as if they lived. If this were cut and polished it would dazzle you." "And if I had it, I could sell it for a good bit of money?" "I am sure you could. I don't know for how much, but for more than I am likely to get from you." "I'd like to pay Miss Polly back that pound as Maggie took from her." "Don't worry me about your debts. Will you have this beautiful uncut diamond for the money you have in the house?" Mrs. Ricketts did not reply for a moment.