She drew back and said, hurriedly, to Mrs.
Colwood:
"Muriel, would you see if they have taken the luggage up-stairs?"
Mrs. Colwood went at once.
Fanny Merton had herself changed color, and looked a little embarrassed.
She did not repeat her remark, but began to take her furs off, to smooth
her hair deliberately, and settle her bracelets. Diana came nearer to
her as soon as they were alone.
"Do you really think I am like mamma?" she said, tremulously, all her
eyes fixed upon her cousin.
"Well, of course I never saw her!" said Miss Merton, looking down at the
fire. "How could I? But mother has a picture of her, and you're as like
as two peas."
"I never saw any picture of mamma," said Diana; "I don't know at all
what she was like."
"Ah, well--" said Miss Merton, still looking down. Then she stopped, and
said no more. She took out her handkerchief, and began to rub a spot of
mud off her dress. It seemed to Diana that her manner was a little
strange, and rather rude. But she had made up her mind there would be
peculiarities in Fanny, and she did not mean to be repelled by them.
"Shall I take you to your room?" she said.
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