"There's heaps of people at Dunscombe know that I've been
engaged to Fred Birch for three months. I wasn't going to write to you,
of course, because I--well!--I knew you thought I'd been rough on
you--about that--you know."
"_Fred Birch!_" Diana's voice was faltering and amazed.
Fanny twisted her hat in her hands.
"He's all right," she said, angrily, "if his business hadn't been ruined
by a lot of nasty crawling tale-tellers. If people'd only mind their own
business! However, there it is--he's ruined--he hasn't got a penny
piece--and, of course, he can't marry me, if--well, if somebody don't
help us out."
Diana's face changed.
"Do you mean that I should help you out?"
"Well, there's no one else!" said Fanny, still, as it seemed, defying
something or some one.
"I gave you--a thousand pounds."
"You gave it _mother I_ I got precious little of it. I've had to borrow,
lately, from people in the boarding-house. And I can't get any
more--there! I'm just broke--stony."
She was still looking straight before her, but her lip trembled.
Diana bent forward impetuously.
"Fanny!" she said, laying her hand on her cousin's, "_do_ go home!"
Fanny's lip continued to tremble.
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