This is not all of Mrs. Swancourt. She had held out to Elfride
hands whose fingers were literally stiff with rings, signis
auroque rigentes, like Helen's robe. These rows of rings were not
worn in vanity apparently. They were mostly antique and dull,
though a few were the reverse.
RIGHT HAND.
1st. Plainly set oval onyx, representing a devil's head. 2nd.
Green jasper intaglio, with red veins. 3rd. Entirely gold,
bearing figure of a hideous griffin. 4th. A sea-green monster
diamond, with small diamonds round it. 5th. Antique cornelian
intaglio of dancing figure of a satyr. 6th. An angular band
chased with dragons' heads. 7th. A facetted carbuncle accompanied
by ten little twinkling emeralds; &c. &c.
LEFT HAND.
1st. A reddish-yellow toadstone. 2nd. A heavy ring enamelled in
colours, and bearing a jacynth. 3rd. An amethystine sapphire.
4th. A polished ruby, surrounded by diamonds. 5th. The engraved
ring of an abbess. 6th. A gloomy intaglio; &c. &c.
Beyond this rather quaint array of stone and metal Mrs. Swancourt
wore no ornament whatever.
Elfride had been favourably impressed with Mrs. Troyton at their
meeting about two months earlier; but to be pleased with a woman
as a momentary acquaintance was different from being taken with
her as a stepmother. However, the suspension of feeling was but
for a moment. Elfride decided to like her still.
Mrs. Swancourt was a woman of the world as to knowledge, the
reverse as to action, as her marriage suggested.
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