Fanny Merton had herself changed color, and looked a little embarrassed. She did not repeat her remark, but began to take her furs off, to smooth her hair deliberately, and settle her bracelets. Diana came nearer to her as soon as they were alone. "Do you really think I am like mamma?" she said, tremulously, all her eyes fixed upon her cousin. "Well, of course I never saw her!" said Miss Merton, looking down at the fire. "How could I? But mother has a picture of her, and you're as like as two peas." "I never saw any picture of mamma," said Diana; "I don't know at all what she was like." "Ah, well--" said Miss Merton, still looking down. Then she stopped, and said no more. She took out her handkerchief, and began to rub a spot of mud off her dress. It seemed to Diana that her manner was a little strange, and rather rude. But she had made up her mind there would be peculiarities in Fanny, and she did not mean to be repelled by them. "Shall I take you to your room?" she said. "You must be tired, and we shall be dining directly." Miss Merton allowed herself to be led up-stairs, looking curiously round her at every step. "I say, you must be well off!" she burst out, as they came to the head of the stairs, "or you'd never be able to run a place like this!" "Papa left me all his money," said Diana, coloring again. "I hope he wouldn't have thought it extravagant." She passed on in front of her guest, holding a candle. Fanny Merton followed. At Diana's statement as to her father's money the girl's face had suddenly resumed its sly hostility. And as Diana walked before her, Miss Merton again examined the house, the furniture, the pictures; but this time, and unknown to Diana, with the air of one half jealous and half contemptuous of all she saw. Part II "_The soberest saints are more stiff-neckèd Than the hottest-headed of the wicked._" CHAPTER VII "I shall soon be back," said Diana--"very soon. I'll just take this book to Dr. Roughsedge. You don't mind?" The question was addressed--in a deprecatory tone--to Mrs. Colwood, who stood beside her at the Beechcote front door. Muriel Colwood smiled, and drew the furs closer round the girl's slim throat. "I shall mind very much if you don't stay out a full hour and get a good walk." Diana ran off, followed by her dog. There was something in the manner both of the dog and its mistress that seemed to show impetuous escape--and relief. "She looks tired out!" said the little companion to herself, as she turned to enter the hall. "How on earth is she going to get through six weeks of it?--or six months!"