But when she started with her house in town--a modest little house in
Mount Street, near the park--just two years after her husband's death, she
had a large circle of acquaintances. The Eustace people, and the Greystock
people, and even the Linlithgow people, did not entirely turn their backs
upon her. The countess, indeed, was very venomous, as she well might be;
but then the countess was known for her venom. The dean and his family
were still anxious that she should be encouraged to discreet living, and,
though they feared many things, thought that they had no ground for open
complaint. The Eustace people were forbearing, and hoped the best. "D---
the necklace," John Eustace had said, and the bishop unfortunately had
heard him say it! "John," said the prelate, "whatever is to become of the
bauble you might express your opinion in more sensible language." "I beg
your lordship's pardon," said John, "I only mean to say that I think we
shouldn't trouble ourselves about a few stones." But the family lawyer,
Mr. Camperdown, would by no means take this view of the matter. It was,
however, generally thought that the young widow opened her campaign more
prudently than had been expected.

And now as so much has been said of the character and fortune and special
circumstances of Lizzie Greystock, who became Lady Eustace as a bride, and
Lady Eustace as a widow and a mother, all within the space of twelve
months, it may be as well to give some description of her person and
habits, such as they were at the period in which our story is supposed to
have its commencement. It must be understood in the first place that she
was very lovely; much more so, indeed, now than when she had fascinated
Sir Florian. She was small, but taller than she looked to be, for her form
was perfectly symmetrical. Her feet and hands might have been taken as
models by a sculptor. Her figure was lithe, and soft, and slim, and
slender. If it had a fault it was this, that it had in it too much of
movement. There were some who said that she was almost snake-like in her