three of the subjects of this revelation; a big bracelet in
the form of a gilt serpent with many twists and beady
eyes, a brazen belt studded with emeralds and rubies, a
chain, of flamboyant architecture, to which, at the Theatre
Royal Little Peddlington, Hamlet's mother must have
been concerned to attach the portrait of the successor
to Hamlet's father. "Are you very sure they're not really
worth something? Their mere weight alone--!" she
vaguely observed, balancing a moment a royal diadem
that might have crowned one of the creations of the
famous Mrs. Jarley.
But Arthur Prime, it was clear, had already thought the
question over and found the answer easy. "If they had
been worth anything to speak of she would long ago
have sold them. My father and she had unfortunately
never been in a position to keep any considerable value
locked up." And while his companion took in the obvious
force of this he went on with a flourish just marked enough
not to escape her: "If they're worth anything at all--why
you're only the more welcome to them."
Charlotte had now in her hand a small bag of faded
figured silk--one of those antique conveniences that
speak to us, in terms of evaporated camphor and
lavender, of the part they have played in some personal
history; but though she had for the first time drawn the
string she looked much more at the young man than at
the questionable treasure it appeared to contain. "I shall
like them. They're all I have."
8
HYLAND
