"You look as though you had had good news," said Sir James Chide, as he
paused beside her on his way through the drawing-room. He was not a
sportsman; nor was Mr. Ferrier.
His eyes rested upon her with such a kind interest, his manner showed so
plainly yet again that he desired to be her friend, that Diana
responded at once.
"I have found a cousin!" she said, gayly, and told the story of her
expected visitor.
Outwardly--perfunctorily--Sir James's aspect while she was speaking
answered to hers. If she was pleased, he was pleased too. He
congratulated her; he entered into her schemes for Miss Merton's
amusement. Really, all the time, the man's aspect was singularly grave,
he listened carefully to every word; he observed the speaker.
"The young lady's mother is your aunt?"
"She was my mother's sister."
"And they have been long in Barbadoes?"
"I think they migrated there just about the same time we went
abroad--after my mother's death."
Sir James said little. He encouraged her to talk on; he listened to the
phrases of memory or expectation which revealed her history--her
solitary bringing-up--her reserved and scholarly father--the singular
closeness, and yet as it seemed strangeness of her relation to him.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124