Diana's cheeks burned with shame. She felt humiliated. Evidently he had regarded her merely as some one with whom it might he agreeable to idle away the tedium of a journey--but that was all. It was obviously his intention that that should be the beginning and the end of it. In a dream she crossed the road and, opening the gate that admitted to the "church path," made her way home alone. She felt she must have a few minutes to herself before she faced the Rector and Joan at the Rectory mid-day dinner. Fortunately, they were both in ignorance of this amazing, stupefying fact that her fellow-traveller--the "gallant rescuer" about whom Pobs had so joyously chaffed her--had signified in the most unmistakable fashion that he wanted nothing more to do with her, and by the time the dinner-bell sounded, Diana had herself well in hand--so well that she was even able to ask in tones of quite casual interest if any one knew who were the strangers in church that morning? "Yes, Mowbray told me," replied the Rector. "They are the new people who have taken Red Gables--that pretty little place on the Woodway Road. The girl is Adrienne de Gervais, the actress, and the elderly lady is a Mrs. Adams, her chaperon." "Oh, then that's why her face seemed so familiar!" exclaimed Diana, a light breaking in upon her. "I mean Miss de Gervais'--not the chaperon's. Of course I must have seen her picture in the illustrated papers dozens of times." "And the man who was with them is Max Errington, who writes nearly all the plays in which she takes part," chimed in Joan. "He's supposed to be in love with her. That piece of information I acquired from Mrs. Mowbray." "I detest Mrs. Mowbray," said Diana, with sudden viciousness. "She's the sort of person who has nothing whatever to talk about and spends hours doing it." The others laughed. "She's rather a gas-bag, I must admit," acknowledged Stair. "But, you know, a country doctor's wife is usually the emporium for all the local gossip. It's expected of her." "Then I'm sure Mrs. Mowbray will never disappoint any one. She fully comes up to expectations," observed Diana grimly. "I suppose we shall have to call on these new people at Red Gables, Dad?" asked Joan, after a brief interval. Diana bent her head suddenly over her plate to hide the scarlet flush which flew into her cheeks at the suggestion. She would _not_ call upon them--a thousand times no! Max Errington had shown her very distinctly in what estimation he held the honour of her friendship, and he should never have the chance of believing she had tried to thrust it on him. "Well"--the Rector was replying leisurely to Joan's inquiry--"I understand they are only going to be at Red Gables now and then--when Miss de Gervais wants a rest from her professional work, I expect. But still, as they have come to our church and are strangers in the district, it would perhaps be neighbourly to call, wouldn't it?"