And here he was, again upon the scene. Impossible,
evidently, to separate them longer. Let them only get engaged, and be
done with it! He stalked on beside Mrs. Colwood, tongue-tied and
miserable.
Meanwhile, Sir James lingered with Diana. "A charming old place!" he
said, looking about him. "But Marsham tells me the Vavasours have
been odious."
"We have got the better of them! Mr. Marsham helped me."
"He has an excellent head, has Oliver. This year he will have special
need of it. It will be a critical time for him."
Diana gave a vague assent. She had, in truth, two recent letters from
Marsham in her pocket at that moment, giving a brilliant and minute
account of the Parliamentary situation. But she hid the fact, warm and
close, like a brooding bird; only drawing on her companion to talk
politics, that she might hear Marsham's name sometimes, and realize the
situation Marsham had described to her, from another point of view.--And
all the time her ear listened for the sound of hoofs, and for the front
door bell.
At last! The peal echoed through the old house. Sir James rose, and,
instinctively, Diana rose too. Was there a smile--humorous and
tender--in the lawyer's blue eyes?
"I'll go and finish my cigarette out-of-doors.
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