But on the grass under the spreading oaks which sheltered the
eastern front a few snow-drops were out. And Diana was gathering them.
She came toward her visitors with alacrity. "Oh! what a long time since
you have been to see me!"
Mrs. Roughsedge explained that she had been entertaining some relations,
and Hugh had been in London. She hoped that Miss Mallory had enjoyed her
stay at Tallyn. It certainly seemed to both mother and son that the
ingenuous young face colored a little as its owner replied--"Thank
you--it was very amusing"--and then added, with a little
hesitation--"Mr. Marsham has been kindly advising me since, about the
gardens--and the Vavasours. _They_ were to keep up the gardens, you
know--and now they practically leave it to me--which isn't fair."
Mrs. Roughsedge secretly wondered whether this statement was meant to
account for the frequent presence of Oliver Marsham at Beechcote. She
had herself met him in the lane riding away from Beechcote no less than
three times during the past fortnight.
"Please come in to tea!" said Diana; "I am just expecting my
cousin--Miss Merton. Mrs. Colwood and I are so excited!--we have never
had a visitor here before.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172