’Passing the instance, which is cruel, I will be just to society thus far,’ said Diana.  ’I was in a boat at Richmond last week, and Leander was revelling along the mud-banks, and took it into his head to swim out to me, and I was moved to take him on board.  The ladies in the boat objected, for he was not only wet but very muddy.  I was forced to own that their objections were reasonable.  My sentimental humaneness had no argument against muslin dresses, though my dear dog’s eyes appealed pathetically, and he would keep swimming after us.  The analogy excuses the world for protecting itself in extreme cases; nothing, nothing excuses its insensibility to cases which may be pleaded.  You see the pirate crew turned pious-ferocious in sanctity.’  She added, half laughing:  ’I am reminded by the boat, I have unveiled my anonymous critic, and had a woeful disappointment.  He wrote like a veteran; he is not much more than a boy.  I received a volume of verse, and a few lines begging my acceptance.  I fancied I knew the writing, and wrote asking him whether I had not to thank him, and inviting him to call.  He seems a nice lad of about two and twenty, mad for literature; and he must have talent.  Arthur Rhodes by name.  I may have a chance of helping him.  He was an articled clerk of Mr. Braddock’s, the same who valiantly came to my rescue once.  He was with us in the boat.’

‘Bring him to me some day,’ said Lady Dunstane.

Miss Paynham’s visit to Copsley was arranged, and it turned out a failure.  The poor young lady came in a flutter, thinking that the friend of Mrs. Warwick would expect her to discourse cleverly.  She attempted it, to Diana’s amazement.  Lady Dunstane’s opposingly corresponding stillness provoked Miss Paynham to expatiate, for she had sprightliness and some mental reserves of the common order.  Clearly, Lady Dunstane mused while listening amiably, Tony never could have designed this gabbler for the mate of Thomas Redworth!

Percy Dacier seemed to her the more likely one, in that light, and she thought so still, after Sir Lukin had introduced him at Copsley for a couple of days of the hunting season.  Tony’s manner with him suggested it; she had a dash of leadership.  They were not intimate in look or tongue.

But Percy Dacier also was too good for Miss Paynham, if that was Tony’s plan for him, Lady Dunstane thought, with the relentlessness of an invalid and recluse’s distaste.  An aspect of penitence she had not demanded, but the silly gabbier under a stigma she could not pardon.

Her opinion of Miss Paynham was diffused in her silence.

Speaking of Mr. Dacier, she remarked, ’As you say of him, Tony, he can brighten, and when you give him a chance he is entertaining.  He has fine gifts.  If I were a member of his family I should beat about for a match for him.  He strikes me as one of the young men who would do better married.’

‘He is doing very well, but the wonder is that he doesn’t marry,’ said Diana.  ’He ought to be engaged.  Lady Esquart told me that he was.  A Miss Asper—­great heiress; and the Daciers want money.  However, there it is.’