She and he had lived
for each other. Books, sketching, long walks, a friendly interest in
their peasant neighbors--these had filled their time.
It took, indeed, but a short time to discover in Miss Mallory a hunger
for society which seemed to be the natural result of long starvation.
With her neighbors the Roughsedges she was already on the friendliest
terms. To Dr. Roughsedge, who was infirm, and often a prisoner to his
library, she paid many small attentions which soon won the heart of an
old student. She was in love with Mrs. Roughsedge's gray curls and
motherly ways; and would consult her about servants and tradesmen with
an eager humility. She liked the son, it seemed, for the parents' sake,
nor was it long before he was allowed--at his own pressing request--to
help in hanging pictures and arranging books at Beechcote. A girl's
manner with young men is always a matter of interest to older women.
Mrs. Colwood thought that Diana's manner to the young soldier could not
have been easily bettered. It was frank and gay--with just that tinge of
old-fashioned reserve which might be thought natural in a girl of gentle
breeding, brought up alone by a fastidious father.
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