Meanwhile Fanny’s attention—­and the surging anger of her thoughts—­were more and more directed upon the girl with the fair hair opposite.  A natural bond of sympathy seemed somehow to have arisen between her and this Miss Drake—­Diana’s victim.  Alicia Drake, looking up, was astonished, time after time, to find herself stared at by the common-looking young woman across the table, who was, she understood, Miss Mallory’s cousin.  What dress, and what manners!  One did not often meet that kind of person in society.  She wished Oliver joy of his future relations.

* * * * *

In the old panelled drawing-room the coffee was circulating.  Sir James was making friends with Mrs. Colwood, whose gentle looks and widow’s dress appealed to him.  Fanny, Miss Drake, and Mr. Birch made a group by the fireplace; Mr. Birch was posing as an authority on the drama; Fanny, her dark eyes fixed upon Alicia, was not paying much attention; and Alicia, with ill-concealed impatience, was yawning behind her glove.  Hugh Roughsedge was examining the Donatello photograph.

“Do you like it?” said Diana, standing beside him.  She was conscious of having rather neglected him at lunch, and there was a dancing something in her own heart which impelled her to kindness and compunction.  Was not the good, inarticulate youth, too, going out into the wilds, his life in his hands, in the typical English way?  The soft look in her eyes which expressed this mingled feeling did not mislead the recipient.  He had overheard Sir James Glide’s message; he understood her.

Presently, Mrs. Roughsedge, seeing that it was a sunny day and the garden looked tempting, asked to be allowed to inspect a new greenhouse that Diana was putting up.  The door leading out of the drawing-room to the moat and the formal garden was thrown open; cloaks and hats were brought, and the guests streamed out.

“You are not coming?” said Hugh Roughsedge to Diana.

At this question he saw a delicate flush, beyond her control, creep over her cheek and throat.

“I—­I am expecting Mr. Marsham,” she said.  “Perhaps I ought to stay.”

Sir James Chide looked at his watch.

“He should be here any minute.  We will overtake you, Captain Roughsedge.”

Hugh went off beside Mrs. Colwood.  Well, well, it was all plain enough!  It was only a fortnight since the Marshams had gone up to town for the Parliamentary season.  And here he was, again upon the scene.  Impossible, evidently, to separate them longer.  Let them only get engaged, and be done with it!  He stalked on beside Mrs. Colwood, tongue-tied and miserable.

Meanwhile, Sir James lingered with Diana.  “A charming old place!” he said, looking about him.  “But Marsham tells me the Vavasours have been odious.”

“We have got the better of them!  Mr. Marsham helped me.”

“He has an excellent head, has Oliver.  This year he will have special need of it.  It will be a critical time for him.”