"
Diana murmured something polite.
Mr. Frobisher meanwhile came to meet them with a remark upon the beauty
of the evening, and Alicia Drake followed.
"I expect you found it a horrid long way," she said to Diana. Diana
disclaimed fatigue.
"You came _so_ slowly, we thought you must be tired."
Something in the drawling manner and the slightly insolent expression
made the words sting. Diana hurried on to Marion Vincent's side. That
lady was leaning on a stick, and for the first time Diana saw that she
was slightly lame. She looked up with a pleasant smile and greeting; but
before they could move on across the ample drive, Mr. Frobisher
overtook them.
"Won't you take my arm?" he said, in a low voice.
Miss Vincent slipped her hand inside his arm, and rested on him. He
supported her with what seemed to Diana a tender carefulness, his head
bent to hers, while he talked and she replied.
Diana followed, her girl's heart kindling.
"Surely!--surely!--they are in love?--engaged?"
But no one else appeared to take any notice or made any remark.
Long did the memory of the evening which followed live warm in the heart
of Diana.
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