‘They wormed nothing out of me,’ she said to her mistress at night, undressing her.  ’But what a set they are!  They’ve got such comfortable places, they’ve all their days and hours for talk of the doings of their superiors.  They read the vilest of those town papers, and they put their two and two together of what is happening in and about.  And not one of the footmen thinks of staying, because it ’s so dull; and they and the maids object—­did one ever hear?—­to the three uppers retiring, when they ‘ve done dining, to the private room to dessert.’

‘That is the custom?’ observed her mistress.

’Foster carries the decanter, ma’am, and Mrs. Bridges the biscuits, and Bartlett the plate of fruit, and they march out in order.’

‘The man at the head of the procession, probably.’

’Oh yes.  And the others, though they have everything except the wine and dessert, don’t like it.  When I was here last they were new, and hadn’t a word against it.  Now they say it’s invidious!  Lady Dunstane will be left without an under-servant at Copsley soon.  I was asked about your boxes, ma’am, and the moment I said they were at Dover, that instant all three peeped.  They let out a mouse to me.  They do love to talk!’

Her mistress could have added, ‘And you too, my good Danvers!’ trustworthy though she knew the creature to be in the main.

‘Now go, and be sure you have bedclothes enough before you drop asleep,’ she said; and Danvers directed her steps to gossip with Bartlett.

Diana wrapped herself in a dressing-gown Lady Dunstane had sent her, and sat by the fire, thinking of the powder of tattle stored in servants’ halls to explode beneath her:  and but for her choice of roads she might have been among strangers.  The liking of strangers best is a curious exemplification of innocence.

‘Yes, I was in a muse,’ she said, raising her head to Emma, whom she expected and sat armed to meet, unaccountably iron-nerved.  ’I was questioning whether I could be quite as blameless as I fancy, if I sit and shiver to be in England.  You will tell me I have taken the right road.  I doubt it.  But the road is taken, and here I am.  But any road that leads me to you is homeward, my darling!’ She tried to melt, determining to be at least open with her.

‘I have not praised you enough for coming,’ said Emma, when they had embraced again.

’Praise a little your “truest friend of women.”  Your letter gave the tug.  I might have resisted it.’

‘He came straight from heaven!  But, cruel Tony where is your love?’

’It is unequal to yours, dear, I see.  I could have wrestled with anything abstract and distant, from being certain.  But here I am.’

’But, my own dear girl, you never could have allowed this infamous charge to be undefended?’

’I think so.  I’ve an odd apathy as to my character; rather like death, when one dreams of flying the soul.  What does it matter?  I should have left the flies and wasps to worry a corpse.  And then-good-bye gentility!  I should have worked for my bread.  I had thoughts of America.  I fancy I can write; and Americans, one hears, are gentle to women.’