“Yes, you pretty little thick-head! Two of everything! Don’t you see? Being as thin as a clothes’-prop, that was easy for me. Two ‘combys,’--two chemises, two petticoats, two serge gowns,--having no figure I wear no corsets, so I didn’t have two of those. Two pairs of knickers, two pairs of stockings,--one pair of shoes on, another pair _off_ and carried secretly under my bathing gown along with my felt hat, as to start with I wore a black straw one. Then, when I got to the cove, I disrobed myself of one set of garments, and put them with my straw hat and one pair of shoes all in an orderly heap on a rock out of the way of the water, as any sensible person preparing to bathe would do. Then I waited for the high tide. It came swiftly and surely, and soon filled the cove,--big waves came with it, rolling in with a splendid dash and roar, and at the proper psychological moment, I threw in all my bathing things, as far out to sea as I could from the summit of the rock where I stood--I saw them whirled round and round in the whelming flood!--in the whelming flood, Sophy!--where my dear Pa and Ma believe I also have been whelmed! Then, when they had nearly disappeared in the hollow of a receding mass of water, I put on my felt hat, and, completely clothed in my one set of decent garments, I quietly walked away.” “Walked away? Where to?” “Not to the nearest railway station, you may be sure!” replied Diana. “I might have been known there and traced. I’m a good walker, and it was quite early--only a little after seven,--so I struck across some fields and went inland for about six or eight miles. Then I came upon a little out-of-the-way station connected with a branch line to London--happily a train was just due, and I took it. I had saved five pounds on the housekeeping last month,--I had intended to give them back to my mother--but--considering everything--I felt I might take that small sum for myself without so much as a prick of conscience! So that’s my story--and here I am!” “And here you’ll stay!” said Sophy eagerly. “Not a soul shall know who you are----” “I’ll stay for two or three days, but not longer,” said Diana. “I want to get abroad as quickly as possible. And I’m afraid I shall have to ask you to lend me a little money----” “I’ll lend or give you anything you want,” interrupted Sophy quickly. “Surely you know that!” “Surely I know that you are one of the kindest-hearted little women in the world!” said Diana. “And your wealthy old bachelor uncle never did a wiser thing than when he left you two thousand a year! Why you remain single I can never understand!”