"I think I do. Don't you feel better for it?" "Yes. Or else, for that which made me do so. Come down, Basil." At tea she was perfectly herself and quite as usual, except for the different expression in her face. It was hardly less grave than before, but something dark had gone out and something light had come in. "I can face the Sewing Society now," she remarked towards the end of the meal. "The Sewing Society!" her husband echoed. "Is that much to face?" "I have not been once since I was married. And they make so much fuss about it, I must go now. They meet to-morrow at mother's." "What do they sew?" "They pretend to be making up a box for some missionary out west." "I guess there is no pretence about it." "Yes, there is. They have been eight months at work upon a box to go to Iowa somewhere, to a family very much in want of everything; and the children and mother are almost, or quite, I guess, in rags, and the ladies here are comfortably doing a little once a week, and don't even expect to have the box made up till Christmas time. Think of the people in Iowa waiting and waiting, with hardly anything to put on, while we meet once a week and sew a little, and talk, and have supper." "How would you manage it?" "I would send off the box next week, Basil." "So would I. Suppose now we do?" "Send off a box?" "Yes. I will give you the money;--you can go--I will drive you--down to Gunn's, and you can get there whatever you think would be suitable, and we will have the fun to ourselves." The colour flushed into Diana's face; it was the first flush of pleasure that had come there in a long while. "You are very good, Basil!" she said. "Don't you think I could drive Saladin?" "Where?" "Anywhere. I mean, that I could go to places then without troubling you to drive me." "I can stand so much trouble. It is not good for a man to live too easy." "But it might be convenient for you sometimes." "So it might, and pleasant for you. No, I should not like to trust you to Saladin. I wonder if your mother would let me have Prince, if I offer her a better horse in exchange. Perhaps I can do better than that. We will see." "O, Basil, you must not get another horse for me!" "I will get anything I like for you." "But do you mean, and keep Saladin too?" "I mean that. Saladin is necessary to me." "Then don't, Basil. I can tell you, people will say you are extravagant if you have two horses." "I cannot help people talking scandal." "No; but it will hurt your influence." "Well, we will feel the pulse of the public to-morrow. But I think they would stand it." They drove down to Mrs. Starling's the next day. Mr. Masters had other business, and must go farther. Diana went in alone. She was early, for she had come to help her mother make the preparations; and at first these engrossed them both. "Well," said Mrs. Starling, when some time had passed,--"how do you get along with your husband?"