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Diana, with a laugh, repeated Marsham's proposal for a six weeks' engagement. That was absurd! But, after all, it could not be very long. She hoped Oliver would be content to keep Beechcote. They could, of course, always spend a good deal of time with Lady Lucy.
She has begun to make inquiries, and I agree with Sir James it is right she should be told " "I propose to go down to Beechcote to-morrow," put in Sir James. "Have you any idea what view Miss Mallory would be likely to take of the matter as affecting her engagement?" "She could have no view that was not unselfish and noble like herself," said Marsham, hotly.
"Your name interests me particularly. It is Welsh, is it not? I knew two or three persons of that name; and they were Welsh." Diana's look changed a little. "Yes, it is Welsh," she said, in a hesitating, reserved voice; and then looked round her as though in search of a change of topic. Sir James bent forward. "May I come and see you some day at Beechcote?"
Meanwhile, as he had seen Mr. Riley, he did his best to prepare her for the letters and enclosures, which had been for twenty years in the custody of the firm, and would reach her on the morrow. But what he did not prepare her for was the letter from Lady Lucy Marsham which reached Beechcote by the evening post, after Sir James had left. The letter lay awhile on Diana's knee, unopened.
I do suffer terr'ble, miss, at times but ther's noa good in grumblin' is there?" Next door, in a straggling line of cottages, she found a gentle, chattering widow whose husband had been drowned in the brew-house at Beechcote twenty years before, drowned in the big vat! before any one had heard a cry or a sound. The widow was proud of so exceptional a tragedy; eager to tell the tale.
One of the first questions on his tongue, as his mother instantly noticed, had been a question as to Miss Mallory. Was she still at Beechcote? Had his mother seen anything of her? Yes, she was still at Beechcote. Mrs. Roughsedge, however, had seen her but seldom and slightly since her son's departure for London.
Lady Felton had expressed her concern for Miss Mallory. "Poor thing! do you think she knows? Why on earth did she ever ask him to Beechcote! Alicia Drake told me she saw him there." These things Sir James did not disclose. He played Diana's game with perfect discretion. He guessed, even that Fanny was in the house, but he said not a word. No need at all to question the young woman.
She was encumbered with parcels, and her husband rose to open the door for her. He stooped and looked into her face. "You didn't say anything about that, Patricia, I'll be bound!" Meanwhile, Diana was wandering about the Beechcote garden, with her hands full of roses, just gathered. The garden glowed under the westering sun.
The light was pure and wan the resting earth shone through it gently yet austerely; only the great woods darkly massed on the horizon gave an accent of mysterious power to a scene in which Nature otherwise showed herself the tamed and homely servant of men. Below were the trees of Beechcote, the gray walls, and the windows touched with a last festal gleam.
"You think I am going to let this business turn you out of Beechcote eh? you preposterous little angel!" "Not this business," stammered Diana; "but I am really living at too great a rate." Sir James grinned, patted her ironically on the shoulder, told her to be a good girl, and departed. Fanny stayed for a week at Beechcote, and at the end of that time Diana and Mrs.
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