Her aunt pursed up her lips.

“I won’t believe it. He couldn’t be wicked. You forget he saved me!”

Miss Betty relented.

“No, I do not, my love; and, to be sure, I think he is a dear boy, but I also think ’twas very right of him to go away.”

She was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.

“Auntie, you know you love him almost as much as I do?”

“No, that I do not!” was the grim retort. “ I am not like to want to marry him!”

There was another watery giggle at this, and Diana went over to the dressing-table to tidy her hair.