She went about her work. Doubtless she had a sense that interruptions might come that afternoon; however, that changed nothing. She had moulded her bread and put it in the pans and got it out of the way; and now the berries were brought out of the pantry, and the preserving kettle went on the fire, and Diana's fingers were soon red with the ripe wine of the fruit. All the time she had her ears open for the sound of a horse's hoofs upon the road; it had not come, so that a quick step outside startled her, and then the figure of Mr. Knowlton in the doorway took her by surprise. Certainly she had been expecting him all the afternoon; but now, whether it were the surprise or somewhat else, Diana's face flushed to the most lovely rose. Yet she went to meet him with simple frankness. "I've not a hand to give you!" she said. "Not a hand!" he echoed. "What a mercy it is that I am independent of hands. Yesterday I should have been in despair;--to-day"-- "You must not abuse your privileges," said Diana, trying to free herself. "And O, Mr. Knowlton, I have a great deal of work to do." "So have I," said he, holding her fast; and indeed she was too pretty a possession to be easily let go. "Whole loads of talking, and no end of arrangements.--Di, I never saw you with such a charming colour. My beauty! Do you know what a beauty you are?" "I am glad you think so!" she said. "Think so? Wait till you are my wife, and I can dress you to please myself. I think you will be a very princess of loveliness." "In the meantime, Mr. Knowlton, what do you think of letting me finish my berries?" "Berries?" he said, laughing. "Tell me first, Di, what do you think of me?" "Inconvenient," said Diana. "And I think, presuming. I must finish my berries, Mr. Knowlton." "_Evan_," he said. "Well; but let me do my work." "Do your work?--My darling! How am I going to talk to you, if you are going into your work? However, in consideration of yesterday--you may." "What made you come to this door?" Diana asked. "I knew you were here." "You would have been much more likely to find mother, most days." "Ah, but I met Prince, as I came along, with Mrs. Starling behind him; and then I thought"-- "What?" "I remembered," said Knowlton, laughing, "that the same person cannot be in two places at once!" The comfort of this fact being upon them, the two took advantage of it. Mr. Knowlton drew his chair close to the table over which Diana's fingers were so busy; and a talk began, which in the range and variety and arbitrary introduction of its topics, it would be in vain to try to follow. Through it all Diana's work went on, except now and then when her fingers made an involuntary pause. The berries were picked over, and weighed, and put over the fire, and watched and tended there; while the tall form of the young officer stood beside Diana as she handled her skimmer, and went back and forth as she went, helping her to carry her jars of sweetmeat.