"Sorry for 'em, Miss
Mallory. We haven't left 'em much. You've done us so uncommon well."
Diana herself looked in some alarm round the table.
"Plenty, my dear lady, plenty!" said the doctor, on her other hand.
"Cold beef, and bread and cheese--what does any mortal want more? Don't
disturb yourself."
Diana wondered who the visitors might be. The butler entered.
"Sir James Chide, ma'am, and Miss Drake. They have ridden over from
Overton Park, and didn't think it was so far. They told me to say they
didn't wish to disturb you at luncheon, and might they have a cup
of coffee?"
Diana excused herself, and hurried out. Mr. Birch explained at length to
Mrs. Colwood and Fanny that Overton Park belonged to the Judge, Sir
William Felton; that Sir James Chide was often there; and no doubt Miss
Drake had been invited for the ball of the night before; awfully smart
affair!--the coming-out ball of the youngest daughter.
"Who is Miss Drake?" asked Fanny, thinking enviously of the ball, to
which she had not been invited. Mr. Birch turned to her with
confidential jocosity.
"Lady Lucy Marsham's cousin; and it is generally supposed that she might
by now have been something else but for--"
He nodded toward the chair at the head of the table which Diana had left
vacant.
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