Her voice was full of pleading; it had a sweetness, too, at once touching and eloquent. Diana returned her look sadly. Conviction had been growing in her heart; a hundred little things sprang to mind to confirm this strange story,--hints, suggestions of Jinny Eaton’s, inexplicable actions of her father. It might be true, but she was appalled at the stillness of her heart. She had loved her mother’s memory, but, confronted with this strange woman, she found no response. She battled against conviction; the shattering of her beautiful dream of an ideal mother was bitter indeed. “I cannot believe it!” she exclaimed, “I cannot believe it!” Her mother drew a long breath. “You mean you will not believe it,” she said quietly, “because you would rather repudiate the sinner! I do not blame you. But it is true, I am your mother.” She broke off, her parched lips quivered, but she shed no tears. “Diana,” she said after a moment, “thank God that you are not like me--and forgive me.” “I cannot believe you!” reiterated Diana. But as she spoke they both saw Dr. Cheyney crossing the lawn to the house, and her mother beckoned to him. The old man came reluctantly, instinctively aware of the cause of the summons. “Dr. Cheyney,” Mrs. Fenwick said with forced composure, “tell Diana that I am her mother.” The old man stood with his hand at his chin; he was very pale. Diana looked up and met his eyes, and a slow painful blush went up to her hair. “She is your mother,” said the doctor abruptly, and turned his back. As he walked away Letty Fenwick held out both hands pleadingly. “Diana,” she said softly, “will you kiss me?” The hot tears came into Diana’s eyes and fell slowly on her pale cheeks. “Mother!” she said, in a choked voice. Her mother caught her in her arms and kissed her. “My child!” she murmured, “my child, can you forgive me?” Diana could not speak, her mother was weeping. “Dear girl,” she said, “I’m rich, I know your father’s in trouble; let me help you, come to me. Oh, Diana, I have longed for you!” “And leave my father?” Diana’s pale face was stern. “Leave him in sorrow and loss and loneliness? Never!” “Ah!” said her mother bitterly, “you love him; it is he who has all your heart!” “I love him dearly,” said the girl, “now more than ever.” Letty turned away. “He is revenged!” she said passionately. Diana took a step nearer and laid her hand on her arm. “Mother,” she said quietly, “I will try to love you also, but remember that for twenty years I have known only a beautiful image of you that his love erected to save your memory for me. But I will try to love you, I will certainly come to see you, I will do anything I can, but only on one condition--” “My God!” cried Letty passionately, “you make a condition? You bargain with me--I must beg for and buy your love?”