But at that word, Basil set the child, scarcely in his arms, out of them again on the floor; and folding Diana in them anew, paid her some of the long arrear of caresses so many a day withheld. Ay, it was the first time he had known he might without distressing her; and no doubt lips can do no more silently to reveal a passion of affection than these did then. If Basil had had a revelation made to him, perhaps so did Diana; but I hardly think Diana was surprised. She knew something of the depths and the contained strength in her husband's character; but it is safe to say, she would never be jealous of Rosy again! Not anything like these demonstrations had ever fallen to Rosy's share. Anything, meanwhile, prettier than Diana's face it would be difficult to see. Flushing like a girl, her lips wreathing with smiles, tear-drops hanging on the eyelashes still, but with flashes and sparkles coming and going in the usually quiet grey eyes. Dispossessed Rosy on the floor meanwhile looked on in astonishment so great that she even forgot to protest. Basil looked down at her at last and laughed. "Rosy has had a lesson," he said, picking her up. "She will know her place henceforth. Come, Di, sit down and talk to me. How came this about?" "I don't know, Basil," said Diana meekly. "Where did it begin?" "I don't know that either. O, _begin?_ I think the beginning was very long ago, when I learned to honour you so thoroughly." "Honour is very cold work; don't talk to me about honour," said Basil. "I have fed and supped on honour, and felt very empty!" "Well, you have had it," said Diana contentedly. "Go on. When did it change into something else?" "It has not changed," said Diana mischievously. "When did you begin to give me something better?" "Do you know, Basil, I cannot tell? I was not conscious myself of what was going on in me." "When?" "Perhaps--since soon after I came home from Clifton. It _had_ not begun then; how soon it began after, I cannot tell. It was so gradual." "When did you discover a change?" "I _felt_ it--I hardly discovered it--a good while ago, I think. But I did not in the least know what it was. I wished--Basil, it is very odd!"--and the colour rose in Diana's cheeks,--"I _wished_ that I could love you." The minister smiled, and there was a suspicious drop in his eyes, which I think to hide, he stooped and kissed Rosy. "Go on. When did you come to a better understanding?" "I don't think I recognised it until--I told mother, not a great while ago, that I cared for nobody in the world but you; but that was different; I meant something different; I do not think I recognised it fully, until--you will think me very strange--until I saw--Evan Knowlton." "And then?" said Basil with a quick look at his wife. Diana's eyes were dreamily going out of the window, and her lips wore the rare smile which had vexed Evan, and which he himself had never seen on them before that day.