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They all moved on together, Captain Roughsedge smoothing or tugging at his mustache with a restless hand. But Miss Bertram, presently, dropping a little behind, drew Mrs. Roughsedge with her. "There are all sorts of changes at the house," she said, confidentially.
Mrs. Roughsedge gave a long sigh as she looked at it. The tragedy was but forty-eight hours old; she had sat up with the mother through her dying hours. "Oh, my dear!" said Mrs. Roughsedge, suddenly "here comes the Vicar.
Meanwhile he held his peace on the subject of some letters he had received that morning. There was to be an expedition in Nigeria. Officers were wanted; and he had volunteered. The result of his application was not yet known. He had no intention whatever of upsetting his parents till it was known. "I wonder how Miss Mallory liked Tallyn," said Mrs. Roughsedge, briskly.
Meanwhile, five miles off, a girl whom he loved as a daughter was eating her heart out for sorrow over this mother and son consumed, as he guessed, with the wild desire to offer them, in any sacrificial mode they pleased, her youth and her sweet self. In one way or another he had found out that Hugh Roughsedge had been sent about his business of course, with all the usual softening formulæ.
She had already expressed the same wonder once or twice. But as neither she nor her son had any materials for deciding the point the remark hardly promoted conversation. She added to it another of more effect. "The Miss Bertrams have already made up their minds that she is to marry Oliver Marsham." "The deuce!" cried the startled Roughsedge.
She had evidently just arrived, and was in search of Diana. Mrs. Roughsedge thought a moment, and then turned and sadly walked home again. No good interfering now! Poor Diana would have to tackle the situation for herself. Diana and Mrs.
Captain Roughsedge, as he touched her hand, asked whether he should find her at home that afternoon if he called, and Diana absently said yes. "What a strange impracticable man!" cried Miss Mallory hotly, as the ladies turned into the Beechcote drive. "It is really a misfortune to find a man of such opinions in this place." "The Vicar?" said Mrs. Colwood, bewildered
Roughsedge, who had been Diana's first protector, saw herself supplanted not without a little natural chagrin. The controversy of the moment was submitted to Marsham, who decided hotly against the Vicar, and implored Diana to stand firm. But somehow his intervention only hastened the compunction that had already begun to work in her. She followed the Roughsedges to the door when they departed.
After church there was much lingering in the churchyard for the exchange of Christmas greetings. Mrs. Colwood found herself introduced to the Vicar, Mr. Lavery; to a couple of maiden ladies of the name of Bertram, who seemed to have a good deal to do with the Vicar, and with the Church affairs of the village; and to an elderly couple, Dr. and Mrs. Roughsedge, white-haired, courteous, and kind, who were accompanied by a soldier son, in whom it was evident they took a boundless pride. The young man, of a handsome and open countenance, looked at Miss Mallory as much as good manners allowed. She, however, had eyes for no one but the Vicar, with whom she started, tête-
Birch was posing as an authority on the drama; Fanny, her dark eyes fixed upon Alicia, was not paying much attention; and Alicia, with ill-concealed impatience, was yawning behind her glove. Hugh Roughsedge was examining the Donatello photograph. "Do you like it?" said Diana, standing beside him.
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