“What a long time it is!” she said--“What a long, long time since you were thin!--really quite thin, James! Do you remember? When you proposed to me in father’s dining-room and the parlour-maid came in and lit the gas, just as you were going to----” “You seem very reminiscent this morning,” interrupted her husband, sharply. “Do white flannels move you to sentiment?” “Oh, no!--not at all--not now!” she replied, with a small giggle. “Only one cannot but think of the change between then and now--it’s almost humorous----” “I should think it is!” he agreed. “It’s more than humorous! It’s comic! What d’ye expect? When I think of what _you_ were!--a nice little pink and white thing with a small waist,--and see you _now_!”--here he snorted half contemptuously. “But there!--we can’t all remain young, and you’re quite comfortable looking--a sort of pillow of ease,--you might be worse----” Here their mutual personal compliments were interrupted by the hurried entrance of Grace Laurie, looking pale and scared. “Oh ’m, I’m afraid some accident has happened to Miss Diana!” she said, breathlessly. “I’ve been all the way down to the cove, and--and----” Here she suddenly burst out crying. Mr. May bounced up from his chair. “Deuce take the woman!--don’t stand there grizzling! What’s the matter? Speak out!” Mrs. May stared feebly, her mouth opening slowly, like that of a fish on dry land. “What--what is it, Grace?” she stammered. “You frighten me!” “Yes ’m, I know, but I can’t help it!” Grace answered, gaspingly. “But--but I’ve been down to the cove--and all round in every place, and there’s Miss Diana’s clothes all put together on the rocks, with her shoes and hat and bathing towel, but--but--there’s no Miss Diana!” Here her emotions got the better of her, and she gave a small scream. “Oh, oh! I’m sure she’s drowned!--oh, Miss Diana, poor thing! I’m sure she’s drowned!--she’s been carried off her feet by the waves!--there was a high tide this morning, and I know she’s drowned! She’s drowned, she’s drowned!” Her voice rose to a high shrill pitch, and she wrung her hands. Mrs. May struggled weakly out of her chair, and then dropped heavily into it again. “Drowned! Diana! Don’t be foolish, Grace! It’s not possible!” Mr. May seized his cap and threw it on his head. “Here, I’ll soon put a stop to all this nonsense!” he said. “Let _me_ get down to the cove,--what’s the good of a parcel of silly fools of women shrieking and crying before they know what’s happened!” He marched up to Grace Laurie and grasped her by the shoulder. “Now, be calm! _Can_ you be calm?” Grace caught her breath, and wriggled herself away from the nip of his fingers. “Yes, sir.” “Well, then, repeat what you said just now,--you went down to the cove and saw----”