These melting moods, indeed, were rare. But no one watching the two on
this February evening could have failed to see in Diana signs of
happiness, of a joyous and growing dependence, of something that refused
to know itself, that masqueraded now as this feeling, now as that, yet
was all the time stealing upon the sources of life, bewitching blood and
brain. Marsham lamented that in ten days he and his mother must be in
town for the Parliamentary season. Diana clearly endeavored to show
nothing more than a polite regret. But in the half-laughing,
half-forlorn requests she made to him for advice in certain practical
matters which must be decided in his absence she betrayed herself; and
Marsham found it amazingly sweet that she should do so. He said eagerly
that he and Lady Lucy must certainly come down to Tallyn every alternate
Sunday, so that the various small matters he had made Diana intrust to
him--the finding of a new gardener; negotiations with the Vavasours,
connected with the cutting of certain trees--or the repairs of a ruinous
gable of the house--should still be carried forward with all possible
care and speed. Whereupon Diana inquired how such things could possibly
engage the time and thought of a politician in the full stream of
Parliament.
Pages:
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180