"
"When did you first guess--or know?"
He hesitated--then thought it best to tell the truth.
"When we were in the lime-walk."
"When you asked--her name? I remember"--her voice broke--"how you wrung
my hand! And you never had any suspicion before?"
"Never. And it makes no difference, Diana--to you and me--none. I want
you to understand that now--at once."
She looked at him, smiling tremulously. His words became him; even in
her sorrow her eyes delighted in his shrewd thin face; in the fair hair,
prematurely touched with gray, and lying heavily on the broad brow; in
the intelligence and distinction of his whole aspect.
"You are so good to me--" she said, with a little sob. "No--no!--please,
dear Oliver!--we have so much to talk of." And again she prevented him
from taking her in his arms. "Tell me"--she laid her hand on his
persuasively: "Sir James, of course, knew from the beginning?"
"Yes--from the beginning--that first night at Tallyn. He is coming down
this afternoon, dearest. He knew you would want to see him. But it may
not be till late."
"After all, I know so little yet," she said, bewildered. "Only--only
what Fanny told me.
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