Mrs. Allen's young friend Catherine had just left to dance with the charming Mr. Tilney, and Mrs. Hughes, the companion of the lovely Miss Tilney, was seated next to her.
After Mrs. Allen had exchanged initial pleasantries with Mrs. Hughes, the conversation quickly moved on to Miss Tilney.
"Those are lovely pearls that Miss Tilney is wearing," Mrs. Allen commented.
"Oh, yes!" Mrs. Hughes agreed, lowering her voice. "They were a wedding gift to her mother, poor dear, and dear Eleanor received them after her mother's death."
"An heirloom, oh how lovely," Mrs. Allen said. "Pity about her mother, though."