The door closed. But some one was still in the room. She turned
sharply in astonishment.
"May I disturb you, Lady Lucy?" said a tremulous voice.
She saw a tall and slender woman, in black, bending toward her, with a
willowy appealing grace, and eyes that beseeched. Diana Mallory stood
before her. There was a pause. Then Lady Lucy rose slowly, laid down her
spectacles, and held out her hand.
"It is very kind of you to come and see me," she said, mechanically.
"Will you sit down?"
Diana gazed at her, with the childish short-sighted pucker of the brow
that Lady Lucy remembered well. Then she came closer, still holding Lady
Lucy's hand.
"Sir James thought I might come," she said, breathlessly. "Isn't
there--isn't there anything I might do? I wanted you to let me help
you--like a secretary--won't you? Sir James thought you looked so
tired--and this big place!--I am sure there are things I might do--and
oh! it would make me so happy!"
Now she had her two hands clasping, fondling Lady Lucy's. Her eyes shone
with tears, her mouth trembled.
"Oh, you must--you must!" she cried, suddenly; "don't let's remember
anything but that we were friends--that you were so kind to me--you and
Mr.
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