me yesterday. Now I see. You must not marry me. I could not
bear to bring poverty upon you, and--to-day--I do not feel
that I have the strength to meet your mother's and your
sister's opposition.

"Will you please tell Lady Lucy and Mrs. Fotheringham that I
have received their letters? It will not be necessary to
answer them. You will tell them that I have broken off the
engagement.

"You were very good to me yesterday. I thank you with all my
heart. But it is not in my power--yet--to forget it all. My
mother was so young--and it seems but the other day.

"I would not injure your career for the world. I hope that
all good will come to you--always.

"Probably Mrs. Colwood and I shall go abroad for a little
while. I want to be alone--and it will be easiest so. Indeed,
if possible, we shall leave London to-morrow night. Good-bye.

"DIANA."

She rose, and stood looking down upon the letter. A thought struck her.
Would he take the sentence giving the probable time of her departure as
an invitation to him to come and meet her at the station?--as showing a
hope that he might yet persist--and prevail?

She stooped impetuously to rewrite the letter. Instead, her tears fell
on it. Sobbing, she put it up--she pressed it to her lips. If he did
come--might they not press hands?--look into each other's eyes?--just
once, once more?

* * * * *

An hour later the home was in a bustle of packing and housekeeping
arrangements. Muriel Colwood, with a small set face and lips, and eyes
that would this time have scorned to cry, was writing notes and giving
directions. Meanwhile, Diana had written to Mrs. Roughsedge, and,
instead of answering the letter, the recipient appeared in person,
breathless with the haste she had made, the gray curls displaced.

Diana told her story, her slender fingers quivering in the large
motherly hand whose grasp soothed her, her eyes avoiding the tender
dismay and pity writ large on the old face beside her; and at the end
she said, with an effort:

"Perhaps you have all expected me to be engaged to Mr. Marsham. He did
propose to me--but--I have refused him."

She faltered a little as she told her first falsehood, but she told it.

"My dear!" cried Mrs. Roughsedge, "he can't--he won't--accept that! If
he ever cared for you, he will care for you tenfold more now!"

"It was I," said Diana,