Diana's face changed. "Do you mean that I should help you out?" "Well, there's no one else!" said Fanny, still, as it seemed, defying something or some one. "I gave you--a thousand pounds." "You gave it _mother I_ I got precious little of it. I've had to borrow, lately, from people in the boarding-house. And I can't get any more--there! I'm just broke--stony." She was still looking straight before her, but her lip trembled. Diana bent forward impetuously. "Fanny!" she said, laying her hand on her cousin's, "_do_ go home!" Fanny's lip continued to tremble. "I tell you I'm engaged," she repeated, in a muffled voice. "Don't marry him!" cried Diana, imploringly. "He's not--he's not a good man." "What do you know about it? He's well enough, though I dare say he's not your sort. He'd be all right if somebody would just lend a hand--help him with the debts, and put him on his feet again. He suits me, anyway. I'm not so thin-skinned." Diana stiffened. Fanny's manner--as of old--was almost incredible, considered as the manner of one in difficulties asking for help. The sneering insolence of it inevitably provoked the person addressed. "Have you told Aunt Bertha?" she said, coldly--"asked her consent?" "Mother? Oh, I've told her I'm engaged. She knows very well that I manage my own business." Diana withdrew her chair a little. "When are you going to be married? Are you still with those friends?" Fanny laughed. "Oh, Lord, no! I fell out with them long ago. They were a wretched lot! But I found a girl I knew, and we set up together. I've been in a blouse-shop earning thirty shillings a week--there! And if I hadn't, I'd have starved!" Fanny raised her head. Their eyes met: Fanny's full of mingled bravado and misery; Diana's suddenly stricken with deep and remorseful distress. "Fanny, I told you to write to me if there was anything wrong! Why didn't you?" "You hated me!" said Fanny, sullenly. "I didn't!" cried Diana, the tears rising to her eyes. "But--you hurt me so!" Then again she bent forward, laying her hand on her cousin's, speaking fast and low. "Fanny, I'm very sorry!--if I'd known you were in trouble I'd have come or written--I thought you were with friends, and I knew the money had been paid. But, Fanny, I _implore_ you!--give up Mr. Birch! Nobody speaks well of him! You'll be miserable!--you must be!" "Too late to think of that!" said Fanny, doggedly. Diana looked up in sudden terror. Fanny tried to brazen it out. But all the patchy color left her cheeks, and, dropping her head on her hands, she began to sob. Yet even the sobs were angry. "I can go and drown myself!" she said, passionately, "and I suppose I'd better. Nobody cares whether I do or not! He's made a fool of me--I don't suppose mother'll take me home again. And if he doesn't marry me, I'll kill myself somehow--it don't matter how--before--I've got to!"