"Don't give in, Miss Mallory."
"Ah!" said Mrs. Roughsedge, as the door opened, "shall we ask Mr.
Marsham?"
Diana turned with a startled movement. It was evident that Marsham was
not expected. But Mrs. Roughsedge also inferred from a shrewd
observation of her hostess that he was not unwelcome. He had, in fact,
looked in on his way home from hunting to give a message from his
mother; that, at least, was the pretext. Hugh Roughsedge, reading him
with a hostile eye, said to himself that if it hadn't been Lady Lucy it
would have been something else. As it happened, he was quite as well
aware as his mother that Marsham's visits to Beechcote of late had been
far more frequent than mere neighborliness required.
Marsham was in hunting dress, and made his usual handsome and energetic
impression. Diana treated him with great self-possession, asking after
Mr. Ferrier, who had just returned to Tallyn for the last fortnight
before the opening of Parliament, and betraying to the Roughsedges that
she was already on intimate terms with Lady Lucy, who was lending her
patterns for her embroidery, driving over once or twice a week, and
advising her about various household affairs.
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