f it comes," I answered, trying to
speak gaily, but making a failure of it.

At last Lisa had got the brocade bag open, and was looking in. She
seemed surprised by what she saw, and very much interested. She put in
her hand, and touched the thing, whatever it was; but she did not tell
me what was there. Probably she wanted to excite my curiosity, and make
me ask. But I didn't care enough to humour her. If the bag had been
stuffed full of the most gorgeous jewels in the world, at that moment I
shouldn't have been interested in the least. I saw Lisa give a little
sidelong peep up at me, to see if I were watching; but when she found me
looking entirely indifferent, she tied up the bag again and stowed it
away in one of the deep pockets of her travelling cloak.

I was afraid that, when we'd arrived at the hotel and gone up to our
rooms Lisa might want to stop with me, and be vexed when I turned her
out, as I felt I must do. But she seemed to have lost interest in me and
my affairs, now that all doubt was settled. She didn't even wish to talk
over what had happened; but when I bade her good-night, simply said,
"good-night" in return, and let me shut the door between the rooms.

"I suppose," I thought, "that the best thing I shall have to hope for
after this, until I grow quite old, is to sleep, and be happy in my
dreams." But though I tried hard to put away thoughts of all kinds, and
fall asleep, I couldn't. My eyes would not stay closed for more than a
minute at a time; and always I found myself staring at the window, hour
after hour, hoping for the light.

CHAPTER XV

DIANA HEARS NEWS

It seemed as if the night would never end. If I had been vain, and
deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I
felt so ashamed and humiliated.

It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful
when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up. After I had had a cold
bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee
afterwards did me good. I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's
maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me
do my hair. "Her Ladyship" sent me her love, and hoped I had rested
nicely. She would be pleased to hear that I was looking well.

Looking well! I was glad to know that, though it surprised me. I stared
at myself in the glass, and wondered that so many hours of misery had
made so little impression on my face. I was r