His affection, as soon as he saw her, had been
conscious of yet another strain upon her, but till she began to talk to
him _tete-a-tete_ he got no clew to it; and even then what he guessed
had very little to do with what she said. She told her cousin's story so
far as she meant to tell it with complete self-possession. Her cousin
was in love with this wretched man, and had got herself terribly talked
about. She could not be persuaded to give him up, while he could only be
induced to marry her by the prospect of money. Could Sir James see him
and find out how much would content him, and whether any decent
employment could be found for him?
Sir James held his peace, except for the "Yeses" and "Noes" that Diana's
conversation demanded. He would certainly interview the young man; he
was very sorry for her anxieties; he would see what could be done.
Meanwhile, he never communicated to her that he had travelled down to
Beechcote in the same carriage with Lady Felton, the county gossip, and
that in addition to other matters--of which more anon--the
refreshment-room story had been discussed between them, with additions
and ramifications leading to very definite conclusions in any rational
mind as to the nature of the bond between Diana's cousin and the young
Dunscombe solicitor.
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