"Fanny, I told you to write to me if there was anything wrong! Why
didn't you?"
"You hated me!" said Fanny, sullenly.
"I didn't!" cried Diana, the tears rising to her eyes. "But--you hurt me
so!" Then again she bent forward, laying her hand on her cousin's,
speaking fast and low. "Fanny, I'm very sorry!--if I'd known you were in
trouble I'd have come or written--I thought you were with friends, and I
knew the money had been paid. But, Fanny, I _implore_ you!--give up Mr.
Birch! Nobody speaks well of him! You'll be miserable!--you must be!"
"Too late to think of that!" said Fanny, doggedly.
Diana looked up in sudden terror. Fanny tried to brazen it out. But all
the patchy color left her cheeks, and, dropping her head on her hands,
she began to sob. Yet even the sobs were angry.
"I can go and drown myself!" she said, passionately, "and I suppose I'd
better. Nobody cares whether I do or not! He's made a fool of me--I
don't suppose mother'll take me home again. And if he doesn't marry me,
I'll kill myself somehow--it don't matter how--before--I've got to!"
Diana had dropped on her knees beside her visitor.
Unconsciously--pitifully--she breathed her cousin's name.
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