“And not much wonder: for you can surround yourself with all kinds of comforts,” said Mrs. Norton, looking round her wistfully. To be sure, the third floor upstairs was not like the _piano nobile_: but she did not intend to seem to make any injurious comparison. The idea was suggested however, and Diana, who was very quick, took it up, and she coloured, and a pained look came upon her face. This was the kind of reproach to which she was most susceptible. It was as if she had been accused of making herself comfortable at some one else’s expense. “I hope you are not uncomfortable upstairs,” she said. “I thought the house was the same all the way up--no difference but the stairs.” “Oh no, Diana, dear!” cried Sophy. “Our drawing-room is not _half_ so big as this. It is divided into two. This part is auntie’s room in our apartment----” “But that does not matter a bit,” cried her aunt; “you must not think we are anything but comfortable, and quite happy, Diana, and most grateful to you.” “Never mind about being grateful,” said Diana, “the comfort is much more important.” She laughed and shook off her momentary offence. “If there is anything I can do to secure that, you must tell me,” she said, kindly; “the Hunstantons’ rooms perhaps might be better when they leave.” “Oh!” cried both the appellants, with a common breathlessness. “That was just what we meant to ask you about,” Mrs. Norton went on--Sophy, so to speak, running behind the skirts of the elder and more skilful operator. “We wanted to know if you thought--if you wished--what you think we ought to do? We came with the Hunstantons; and Pisa is not a place to stay in, in summer. But on the other hand, to go back to the Red House when you were away, Diana----” “Yes, I understand; but shall I be away? If Pisa is not a summer place, I cannot stop in Pisa more than any one else.” “But you can go where you like, dear. There are a great many other places to go to. There is Florence, which you would like to see, and the Bagni di Lucca; and there is Switzerland, Diana. You can do whatever you please; but we can’t afford, can we, to do anything but go straight home?--if you think we ought to go straight home.”