Diana went into no reasoning, on that subject or any other; but she managed to do all that was demanded of her without changing her dress, and yet without damaging its fresh neatness. In silence, and in an uncomfortable mute antagonism which each one felt in every movement of the other. Odd it is, that when words for any reason are restrained, the feeling supposed to be kept back manifests itself in the turn of the shoulders and the set of the head, in the putting down of the foot or the raising of the hand, nay, in the harmless movements of pans and kettles. The work was done, however, punctually, as always in that house; though Diana's feeling of mingled resentment and shame grew as the evening wore on. She was glad when the last pan was lifted for the last time, the key turned in the lock of the door of the lean-to, and she and her mother moved into the other part of the house, preparatory to seeking their several rooms. But Mrs. Starling had not done her work yet. "When's that young man comin' again?" she asked abruptly at the foot of the stairs, stopping to trim the wick of her candle, and looking into the light without winking. "I don't know--" Diana faltered. "I don't know that he is ever coming again." "Don't expect him either, don't you?" "I think it would be odd if he didn't," said Diana bravely, after a moment's hesitation. "Odd! why?" Diana hesitated longer this time, and the words did not come for her waiting. "Why odd?" repeated Mrs. Starling sharply. "When people seem to like a place--they are apt to come again," said Diana, flushing a little. "_Seem to_," said Mrs. Starling. "Now, Diana, I have just this one thing to say. Don't you go and give that young fellow no encouragement." "Encouragement, mother!" repeated Diana. "Yes, encouragement. Don't you give him any. Mind my words. 'Cause, if you do, I won't!" "But, mother!" said Diana, "what is there to encourage? I could not help going to show the brook to him to-day." "You couldn't?" said Mrs. Starling, beginning to mount the stairs. "Well, it is good to practise. Suppose'n he asked you to let him show you the Mississippi--or the Pacific Ocean; couldn't you help that?" "Mother, I am ashamed!" said poor Diana. "Just think. He is educated, and has every advantage, and is an officer in the United States army now; and what am I?" "Worth three dozen of him," said Mrs. Starling decidedly. "He wouldn't think so, mother, nor anybody else but you." "Well, _I_ think so, mind, and that's enough. I ain't a goin' to give you to him, not if he was fifty officers in the United States army. So keep my words, Diana, and mind what I say. I never will give you to him, nor to any other man that calls himself a soldier and looks down upon folks that are better than he is. I won't let you marry him; so don't you go and tell him you will." "He won't ask me, mother. You make me ashamed!" said Diana, with her cheeks burning; "but I am sure he does not look down upon me."