Evelyn always seemed to stiffen when Aurelia talked about Ralph, and, under the pretext of putting her post-card in the letter-bag for her, she presently left the room, and did not return. Aurelia sat down on the hearth-rug, and held two plump little hands to the fire. It was quite impossible to go on writing to Jane while she was there, and I gave it up accordingly. "I am glad Evelyn is gone," she said, confidentially. "Do you know why I am glad?" I said I could not imagine. "Because," continued Aurelia, nodding gravely at me, "I want to have a very, very, _very_ serious conversation with you, Colonel Middleton." I said I should be charmed, inwardly wondering what that little curly head would consider to be serious conversation. "Really serious, you know," continued Aurelia, "not pretence. About that!" pointing with a pink finger at the inlaid writing-table. "You know I was with Ralph when he found it out, and I am afraid I was a little cross to him, only really it was so hard, and they were so lovely, and it _was_ partly his fault, now, wasn't it, for leaving them there? He ought to have been more careful." "Of course he ought," I said. I would not have contradicted her for worlds. "And you know I am to be married next month; and Aunt Alice in Dublin, who is getting my things, says as it is to be a winter wedding I am to be married in a white _frise_ velvet, and I did think the diamonds would have looked so lovely with it. Wouldn't they?" I agreed, of course. "But I shall never be married in them now," she said, with a deep sigh. "And I was looking forward to the wedding so much, though I dare say I did tell a naughty little story when I said I was _not_ to Ralph the other night. Of course Ralph is still left," she added, as an after-thought; "but it won't be so perfect, will it?" I was morally certain Charles would have to give them up, so I said, reassuringly: "Perhaps you may be married in them, after all." "Oh!" she said, clasping her hands together, "do you really think so? Do you know anything? I have not seen Ralph since to ask him about it. Do you think we shall really get them back?" "I should not wonder." "Oh, Colonel Middleton, I see you know. You are a clever, wise man, and you have found out something. Who is it? Do tell me!" "Will you promise not to tell any one?" "Mayn't I tell Ralph? I tell him everything." "Well, you may tell Ralph, because he knows already; but no one else, remember. The truth is, we are afraid it is Charles." There was a long pause. "I know Evelyn thinks so," said Aurelia, in a whisper, "though she tries not to show it, because--because--" "Because what?" "Well, of course, you can't have helped seeing, can you, that she and Charles--" I had not seen it; indeed, I had fancied at times that Evelyn had a leaning towards Ralph; but I never care to seem slower than others in noticing these things, so I nodded.