"My cousin?" Diana looked up startled. "Was that what she was saying to
you?"
Muriel nodded assent. Her look--so anxious and tender--held, enveloped
her companion.
"Are they in debt?" said Diana, slowly.
"Terribly. They seem to be going to break up their home."
"Did she tell you all about it?"
Mrs. Colwood hesitated.
"A great deal more than I wanted to know!" she said, at last, as though
the words broke from her.
Diana thought a little.
"I wonder--whether that was--what she came home for?"
Mrs. Colwood moved uneasily.
"I suppose if you are in those straits you don't really think of
anything else--though you may wish to."
"Did she tell you how much they want?" said Diana, quickly.
"She named a thousand pounds!"
Muriel might have been describing her own embarrassments, so scarlet had
she become.
"A thousand pounds!" cried Diana, in amazement. "But then why--why--does
she have so many frocks--and play cards for money--and bet on races?"
She threw her arms round Mrs. Colwood's knees impetuously.
Muriel's small hand smoothed back the girl's hair, timidly yet eagerly.
"I suppose that's the way they've been brought up.
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