g van Hert came as usual, but, simply because he was gayer
than usual, Diana perceived that his gaiety was forced; and she saw
also that he shunned meeting her eyes, looking anywhere, nowhere,
rather than into her face.

The next day she rode in a direction where she and Meryl often met and
joined him for a gallop. Meryl had suggested coming as usual, but
Diana had contrived to put her off. She wanted if possible, without
quite knowing why, to see van Hert alone; and as it happened, Fortune
favoured her, for he appeared up a side road suddenly, and had no time
to escape her, even had he wished. So they rode together, and he tried
to talk to her as usual. When they came to a spot where they often
dismounted, and sat to enjoy the lovely view of distant hills, Diana
prepared to get off her horse. She saw him hesitate, and then he
muttered something about an important engagement.

"O, nonsense!..." with a gay, airy smile. "If I'm not in a hurry, you
can't be. I only want to sit for about fifteen minutes."

So they gave their horses' reins to the smart black groom, who always
rode with the girls, and sat on the rustic bench where the three had
several times sat together.

And suddenly, Diana, giving rein to her impulsive temperament, said,
"What is your opinion of a man who marries one woman and loves
another?"

She saw him start and stiffen, but he tried to parry the thrust. "What
a question to ask a fiance of a few weeks, on the eve of becoming a
bridegroom!..."

"Well, that's why! I thought you would have formed many opinions on
the subject of love and marriage."

"And why do you want to know?"

"O, just a fancy! I know men sometimes do that kind of thing.
Personally I think it is rather cowardly."

"Why cowardly?..."

"Because it shows a man hasn't the pluck to own he has made a mistake.
He would rather go on with it, and pretend everything is all right."

She saw him bite his lip, and felt more thoroughly that he would not
meet her eyes.

"It is hard on the other woman, the one he _does_ love, too. It might
make her very happy to be told. One joy is better than two miseries
any day, even if his lordship did have to own to a mistake and look
rather silly!..." with a little laugh.

"Perhaps I shall know more about it when I am married," trying to
speak carelessly. "You must ask me later."

"Probably I shall not want to know then; my fancies are always
varying. What should _you_ do, for instance, if you