She stood absently by the fire
taking off her bracelets and necklace. Mrs. Colwood made a few remarks
about the evening and the guests, with little response, and presently
wondered why she was detained. At last Diana put up her hands, and
smoothed back the hair from her temples with a long sigh. Then she laid
a sudden grasp upon Mrs. Colwood, and looked earnestly and imploringly
into her face.
"Will you--please--call me Diana? And--and--will you kiss me?"
She humbly stooped her head. Mrs. Colwood, much touched, threw her arms
around her, and kissed her heartily. Then a few warm words fell from
her--as to the scene of the evening. Diana withdrew herself at once,
shivering a little.
"Oh, I want papa!" she said--"I want him so much!"
And she hid her eyes against the mantel-piece.
Mrs. Colwood soothed her affectionately, perhaps expecting some outburst
of confidence, which, however, did not come. Diana said a quiet
"good-night," and they parted.
But it was long before Mrs. Colwood could sleep. Was the emotion she had
just witnessed--flinging itself geyserlike into sight, only to sink back
as swiftly out of ken--was it an effect of the past or an omen of the
future? The longing expressed in the girl's heart and voice, after the
brave show she had made--had it overpowered her just because she felt
herself alone, without natural protectors, on the brink of her
woman's destiny?
CHAPTER IV
The next day, when Diana looked out from her window, she saw a large and
dreary park wrapped in scudding rain which promised evil things for the
shooting-party of the day.
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