expression upon the face of Henry Pym's sister confronting Henry Pym's
niece.

"Really, Diana!..." she expostulated. "I think it is hardly a subject
for jesting. Marriage is a very serious thing. I hope God will bless
dear Meryl with great happiness. I confess, at first, I was
disappointed that she chose a Dutch husband; but Mr. van Hert has very
good Huguenot blood in his veins, and he is undoubtedly a very
charming man; and then, of course, her children will only be half
Dutch."

"Her children ought to be bear cubs!" snapped Diana, wishing her aunt
would go away and leave her to read her letter in peace.

For a moment Aunt Emily was too horrified to reply, and then Diana
added, "Don't trouble to expostulate any more. I'm not really mad,
only eccentric. I never could see why people make such a silly fuss
about weddings; anyhow, they are all the same and all commonplace.
When I marry, I shall give all my friends the shock of their lives,
something to talk about for a year, and then for once in my life I
shall be a public benefactor. I see Helen looking about on the terrace
as if she wanted you. Shall I ask her?..."

"No, I will go in to her"; and she got up and walked towards the
house, still wearing a shocked expression.

"I wonder if Helen will have the sense to manufacture some request?"
thought Diana, glancing after her. "As if I could see the terrace from
here!..."

Then she opened her letter.

When she had read it through once, she turned back to the beginning
and read it through again. And all the time she was so rigidly still,
that a little bird hopped close up to her foot to investigate.

Then she laid the letter down and looked out across the garden. Five
minutes later she got to her feet.

In a moment of crisis Diana was the type who courageously follows an
inspiration, without overmuch weighing and sifting. She had faith in
her own keen woman's instinct and she knew there were times when
sharp, decisive action is better than lengthy, minute attention to all
the laws of war, and far-reaching considerations of what might or
might not result.

A gate at the far end of the garden led out to the main road, and not
very far down was a post office. Diana went straight to it, and sent a
wire, with prepaid reply, directed to Major Carew, which ran:--

"Can you come at once? Urgently wanted. Go to Carlton and send message
on arrival to me.

"DIANA PYM."

XXIX

A USEFUL BLUNDER

The railw