they were bound to do their duty by her as the widow of the late and the
mother of the present baronet. And they did not find much cause of
complaining as to Lizzie's conduct in these days. In that matter of the
great family diamond necklace, which certainly should not have been taken
to Naples at all, and as to which the jeweller had told the lawyer and the
lawyer had told John Eustace that it certainly should not now be detained
among the widow's own private property, the bishop strongly recommended
that nothing should be said at present. The mistake, if there was a
mistake, could be remedied at any time. And nothing in those very early
days was said about the great Eustace necklace which afterwards became so
famous.

Why Lizzie should have been so generally disliked by the Eustaces it might
be hard to explain. While she remained at the palace she was very
discreet, and perhaps demure. It may be said they disliked her expressed
determination to cut her aunt, Lady Linlithgow; for they knew that Lady
Linlithgow had been, at any rate, a friend to Lizzie Greystock. There are
people who can be wise within a certain margin, but beyond that commit
great imprudences. Lady Eustace submitted herself to the palace people for
that period of her prostration, but she could not hold her tongue as to
her future intentions. She would, too, now and then ask of Mrs. Eustace
and even of her daughter an eager, anxious question about her own
property. "She is dying to handle her money," said Mrs. Eustace to the
bishop. "She is only like the rest of the world in that," said the bishop.
"If she would be really open, I wouldn't mind it," said Mrs. Eustace. None
of them liked her, and she did not like them.

She remained at the palace for six months, and at the end of that time she
went to her own place in Scotland. Mrs. Eustace had strongly advised her
to ask her aunt, Lady Linlithgow, to accompany her, but in refusing to do