He nodded toward the chair at the head of the table which Diana had left vacant.

“Whatever do you mean?” said Fanny.  The Marshams to her were, so far, mere shadows.  They represented rich people on the horizon whom Diana selfishly wished to keep to herself.

“I’m telling tales, I declare I am!” said Mr. Birch.  “Haven’t you seen Mr. Oliver Marsham yet, Miss Merton?”

“No.  I don’t know anything about him.”

“Ah!” said Mr. Birch, smiling, and peeling an apple with deliberation.

Fanny flushed.

“Is there anything up—­between him and Diana?” she said in his ear.

Mr. Birch smiled again.

“I saw old Mr. Vavasour the other day—­clients of ours, you understand.  A close-fisted old boy, Miss Merton.  They imagined they’d get a good deal out of your cousin.  But not a bit of it.  Oliver Marsham does all her business for her.  The Vavasours don’t like it, I can tell you.”

“I haven’t seen either him or Lady Lucy—­is that her name?—­since I came.”

“Let me see.  You came about a fortnight ago—­just when Parliament reassembled.  Mr. Marsham is our member.  He and Lady Lucy went up to town the day before Parliament met.”

“And what about Miss Drake?”

“Ah!—­poor Miss Drake!” Mr. Birch raised a humorous eyebrow.  “Those little things will happen, won’t they?  It was just at Christmas, I understand, that your cousin paid her first visit to Tallyn.  A man who was shooting there told me all about it.”

“And Miss Drake was there too?”

Mr. Birch nodded.

“And Diana cut her out?” said Fanny, bending toward him eagerly.

Mr. Birch smiled again.  Voices were heard in the hall, but before the new guests entered, the young man put up a finger to his lips: 

“Don’t you quote me, please, Miss Merton.  But, I can tell you, your cousin’s very high up in the running just now.  And Oliver Marsham will have twenty thousand a year some day if he has a penny.  Miss Mallory hasn’t told you anything—­hasn’t she?  Ha—­ha!  Still waters, you know—­still waters!”

* * * * *

A few minutes later Sir James Chide was seated between Diana and Fanny Merton, Mr. Birch having obligingly vacated his seat and passed to the other side of the table, where his attempts at conversation were coldly received by Miss Drake.  That young lady dazzled the eyes of Fanny, who sat opposite to her.  The closely fitting habit and black riding-hat gave to her fine figure and silky wealth of hair the maximum of effect.  Fanny perfectly understood that only money and fashion could attain to Miss Drake’s costly simplicity.  She envied her from the bottom of her heart; she would have given worlds to see the dress in which she had figured at the ball.  Miss Drake, no doubt, went to two or three balls a week, and could spend anything she liked upon her clothes.