"I am not. But I could not bear to see you throw yourself away on a highwayman, my dear."
Diana ran to her, putting her arms round her neck.
"Dearest auntie, forgive my rudeness! I know you did not mean to be unkind! But you do not understand-I love him."
"I always said you'd take it badly," nodded Miss Betty gloomily.
"Take what badly?"
"Love. And no man is worth one tear-drop, sweet."
The confident, tender little laugh that answered this statement made her look at her suddenly changed niece in surprise.
"You don't know," said Diana. Her eyes were soft and luminous. "You just do not know."
Before Miss Betty could think of a suitable retort, a knock fell on the door. It was opened, and Thomas was found to be without.
"My Lady O'Hara is below, madam."
For an instant the two ladies stared at one another. Then: "La and drat!" said Miss Betty. "With the drawing-room in a muddle after cleaning!"
Diana nodded to the man.
"We will come, Thomas." Then as soon as he had withdrawn, she stared again at her aunt. "Lady O'Hara! But why?"
"I suppose she felt she must call after Sir Miles had been here so often. But why, for goodness' sake, must she choose the one day that the drawing-room is all untidy? Drat again, I say!"
Diana was powdering her little nose, and anxiously looking to see if the tear-stains had quite vanished.
"'Tis not untidy, Aunt Betty. Oh, I am quite eager to see her-I think she must be charming, from all Sir Miles said. Do hurry, aunt!"
Miss Betty stuck a pin into her hair and smoothed out her dress.
"And me in this old taffeta!" she grumbled.
Diana swirled round, her own peach-coloured silk rustling fashionably.
"Never mind, dear-you look very sweet. But do be quick!"
Miss Betty suffered herself to be led to the door.
"'Tis all very fine for you, my love, with a new gown fresh on to-day! Will you just take a look at my petticoat, though?"
"Nonsense, you are beautiful! Come!"
Together they descended the stairs, and went into the drawing-room.
A dainty, very diminutive little lady arose from a chair at their entry, and came forward with outstretched hands, and such a fascinating smile that Miss Betty's ill-humour vanished, and she responded to her visitor's deep curtsy with one of her best jerky dips.
"I am vastly delighted to welcome you, madam," she said primly. "'Tis good in you to come this long way to see us."
She drew a chair forward for my lady, and presented her niece. Lady O'Hara gave the girl a swift, scrutinising glance, and curtsied again.