“Take what badly?”

“Love. And no man is worth one teardrop, sweet.”

The confident, tender little laugh that answered this statement made her look at her suddenly changed niece in surprise.

“You don’t know,” said Diana. Her eyes were soft and luminous. “You just do not know.”

Before Miss Betty could think of a suitable retort, a knock fell on the door. It was opened, and Thomas was found to be without.

“My Lady O’Hara is below, madam.”

For an instant the two ladies stared at one another. Then:

“La and drat!” said Miss Betty. “With the drawing-room in a muddle after cleaning!”

Diana nodded to the man.