She had turned desperately to her work for distraction from the ceaseless torture of her thoughts, but not all the work in the world had been able to silence the cry of her heart. For work can do no more than fill the day, and though Diana feverishly crammed each day so full that there was little time to think and remember, the nights remained--the interminable nights, when she was alone with her own soul, and when the memories which the day's work had beaten back came pressing in upon her. Oh, God! The nights--the endless, intolerable nights! . . . CHAPTER XXIV THE VISION OF LOVE A week after her visit to Somervell Street, the thing which Diana had dreaded came to pass. She was attending a reception at the French Embassy, and as she made her way through the crowded rooms, followed by Olga Lermontof--who frequently added to the duties of accompanist those of _dame de compagnie_ to the great _prima donna_--she came suddenly face to face with Max. To many of us the anticipation of an unpleasant happening is far more agonising than the actual thing itself. The mind, brooding apprehensively upon what may conceivably occur, exaggerates the possibilities of the situation, enhancing all the disagreeable details, and oblivious of any mitigating circumstances which may, quite probably, accompany it. There is sound sense and infinite comfort, if you look for it, in the old saying which bids us not to cross our bridges till we come to them. The fear of the unknown, the unexperienced, is a more haunting, insidious fear than any other, and sometimes one positively longs to hasten the advent of an unwelcome ordeal, in order that the worst may be known and the menace of the future be transformed into a memory of the past. So it was with Diana. She had been for so long beset by her fear of the first meeting that she experienced a sensation almost of relief when her eyes fell at last upon the tall figure of her husband. He was deep in conversation with the French Ambassador at the moment, but as Diana approached it was as though some sensitive, invisible live wire had vibrated, apprising him of her nearness, and he looked up suddenly, his blue eyes gazing straight into hers. To Diana, the brief encounter proved amazingly simple and easy in contrast with the shrinking apprehensions she had formed. A slight bow from her, its grave return from him, and the dreaded moment was past. It was only afterwards that she realised, with a sense of sick dismay, how terribly he had altered. She caught at the accompanist's arm with nervous force. "Olga!" she whispered. "Did you see?" The Russian's expression answered her. Her face wore a curious stunned look, and her mouth twitched as she tried to control the sudden trembling of her lips. "Come outside--on to this balcony." Olga spoke with a fierce imperativeness as she saw Diana sway uncertainly and her face whiten.