Her solitary bringing-up had made her liable to fits of shyness
amid her general expansiveness, and it was a relief to meet no
one--least of all, Alicia Drake--on her way down-stairs. Mrs. Colwood,
indeed, was waiting for her at the end of the passage, and Diana held
her hand a little as they descended.
A male voice was speaking in the hall--Mr. Marsham giving the last
directions for the day to the head keeper. The voice was sharp and
peremptory--too peremptory, one might have thought, for democracy
addressing a brother. But the keeper, a gray-haired, weather-beaten man
of fifty, bowed himself out respectfully, and Marsham turned to greet
Diana. Mrs. Colwood saw the kindling of his eyes as they fell on the
girl's morning freshness. No sharpness in the voice now!--he was all
eagerness to escort and serve his guests.
He led them to the breakfast-room, which seemed to be in an uproar,
caused apparently by Bobbie Forbes and Lady Niton, who were talking at
each other across the table.
"What is the matter?" asked Diana, as she slipped into a place to which
Sir James Chide smilingly invited her--between himself and Mr. Bobbie.
Sir James, making a pretence of shutting his ears against the din,
replied that he believed Mr.
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