Diana stood in the old oak porch, riding-whip in hand, and the folds of her voluminous gown over her arm. Miss Betty stood beside her, surveying her with secret pride.
Diana's eyes seemed darker than ever, she thought, and the mouth more tragic. She knew that the girl was, to use her own expression, "moping quite prodigiously for that Mr. Carr." Not all that she could do to entertain Diana entirely chased away the haunting sadness in her face; for a time she would be gay, but afterwards the laughter died away and she was silent. Many times had Miss Betty shaken her fist at the absent John.
Presently Diana gave a tiny sigh, and looked down at her aunt, smiling.
"You would be surprised how excellently well Harper manages the horses," she said. "He is quite a godsend. So much nicer than that stupid William."
"Indeed, yes," agreed Miss Betty. "Only think, my dear, he was groom to Sir Hugh Grandison-I saw the letter Sir Hugh writ your Papa-a remarkable elegant epistle, I assure you, my love."
Diana nodded and watched the new groom ride up, leading her mount. He jumped down, and, touching his hat, stood awaiting his mistress's pleasure.
Diana went up to the cob, patting his glossy neck.
"We are going towards Ashley to-day, aunt," she said. "I am so anxious to find some berries, and Harper tells me they grow in profusion not far from here."
"Now, my dear, pray do not tire yourself by going too far- I doubt it will rain before long and you will catch your death of cold!"
Diana laughed at her.
"Oh, no, aunt! Why, the sky is almost cloudless! But we shall not be long, I promise you. Only as far as Crossdown Woods and back again."
She gave her foot to the groom just as Mr. Beauleigh came out to watch her start.
"Really, my dear, I must ride with you to-morrow," he told her. "'Tis an age since we have been out together."
"Why, Papa, will you not accompany me this afternoon?" cried Diana eagerly. "I should so like it!"
It struck her aunt that Harper awaited the answer to this question rather anxiously. She watched him, puzzled. However, when Mr.
Beauleigh had refused she could not see any change in his expression, and concluded that she must have been mistaken.
So with a wave of her hand, Diana rode away, the groom following at a respectful distance. Yet somehow Miss Betty was uneasy. A presentiment of evil seemed to touch her, and when the riders had disappeared round a bend in the road she felt an insane desire to run after them and call her niece back. She gave herself a little shake, saying that she was a fond old woman, over-anxious about Diana.