While Mrs. Fotheringham went off to
committees, Miss Drake spent the rest of the day in ministering to Lady
Lucy, who found her company, her gossip about Beechcote, her sympathetic
yet restrained attitude toward the whole matter, quite invaluable. But,
in spite of these aids, the hours of waiting and suspense passed
heavily, and Alicia said to herself that Cousin Lucy was beginning to
look frail.
CHAPTER XIII
Owing to the scantiness of Sunday trains, Marsham did not arrive at
Beechcote village till between nine and ten at night. He left his bag at
the village inn, tried to ignore the scarcely concealed astonishment
with which the well-known master--or reputed master--of Tallyn was
received within its extremely modest walls, and walked up to the
manor-house. There he had a short conversation with Mrs. Colwood, who
did not propose to tell Diana of his arrival till the morning.
"She does not know that I wrote to you," said the little lady, in her
pale distress. "She wrote to you herself this evening. I hope I have not
done wrong."
Marsham reassured her, and they had a melancholy consultation. Diana, it
seemed, had insisted on getting up that day as usual.
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