and make a show of
her? Everybody of his acquaintance was now engaged in retrying the Wing
murder, since that statement of Chide's in the _Times_. No one talked of
anything else, and the new story that was now tacked on to the old had
given yet another spin to the ball of gossip.

How had the story got out? Bobbie believed that it had been mainly the
doing of Lady Niton. At any rate, the world understood perfectly that
Juliet Sparling's innocent and unfortunate daughter had been harshly
treated by Lady Lucy--and deserted by Lady Lucy's son.

Queer fellow, Marsham!--rather a fool, too. Why the deuce didn't he
stick to it? Lady Lucy would have come round; he would have gained
enormous _kudos_, and lost nothing. Bobbie looked admiringly at his
companion, vowing to himself that she was worth fighting for. But his
own heart was proof. For three months he had been engaged, _sub rosa_,
to a penniless cousin. No one knew, least of all Lady Niton, who, in
spite of her championship of Diana, would probably be furious when she
did know. He found himself pining to tell Diana; he would tell her as
soon as ever he got an opportunity. Odd!--that the effect of having gone
through a lot yourself should be that other people were strongly drawn
to unload their troubles upon you. Bobbie felt himself a selfish beast;
but all the same his "Ettie" and his debts; the pros and cons of the
various schemes for his future, in which he had hitherto allowed Lady
Niton to play so queer and tyrannical a part--all these burned on his
tongue till he could confide them to Diana.

Meanwhile the talk strayed to Ferrier and politics--dangerous ground!
Yet some secret impulse in Diana drew her toward it, and Bobbie's
curiosity played up. Diana spoke with concern of the great man's pallor
and fatigue. "Not to be wondered at," said Forbes, "considering the
tight place he was in, or would soon be in." Diana asked for
explanations, acting a part a little; for since her acquaintance with
Oliver Marsham she had become a diligent reader of newspapers. Bobbie,
divining her, gave her the latest and most authentic gossip of the
clubs; as to the various incidents and gradations of the now open revolt
of the Left Wing; the current estimates of Ferrier's strength in the
country; and the prospects of the coming election.

Presently he even ventured on Marsham's name, feeling instinctively that
she waited for it. If there was any change in the face beside him the
May d