ce; and that there
must be something not, entirely right going on, he strongly inclined to
think.

CHAPTER VII

THE CRISIS

It was a confirmed suspicion when he beheld Lord Dannisburgh on the box
of a four-in-hand, and the peerless Diana beside him, cockaded lackeys in
plain livery and the lady's maid to the rear. But Lord Dannisburgh's
visit was a compliment, and the freak of his driving down under the beams
of Aurora on a sober Sunday morning capital fun; so with a gaiety that
was kept alive for the invalid Emma to partake of it, they rattled away
to the heights, and climbed them, and Diana rushed to the arms of her
friend, whispering and cooing for pardon if she startled her, guilty of a
little whiff of blarney:--Lord Dannisburgh wanted so much to be
introduced to her, and she so much wanted her to know him, and she hoped
to be graciously excused for thus bringing them together, 'that she might
be chorus to them!' Chorus was a pretty fiction on the part of the
thrilling and topping voice. She was the very radiant Diana of her
earliest opening day, both in look and speech, a queenly comrade, and a
spirit leaping and shining like a mountain water. She did not seduce, she
ravished. The judgement was taken captive and flowed with her. As to the
prank of the visit, Emma heartily enjoyed it and hugged it for a holiday
of her own, and doating on the beautiful, darkeyed, fresh creature, who
bore the name of the divine Huntress, she thought her a true Dian in
stature, step, and attributes, the genius of laughter superadded. None
else on earth so sweetly laughed, none so spontaneously, victoriously
provoked the healthful openness. Her delicious chatter, and her museful
sparkle in listening, equally quickened every sense of life. Adorable as
she was to her friend Emma at all times, she that day struck a new
fountain in memory. And it was pleasant to see the great lord's
admiration of this wonder. One could firmly believe in their friendship,
and his winning ideas from the abounding bubbling well. A recurrent smile
beamed on his face when hearing and observing her. Certain dishes
provided at the table were Diana's favourites, and he relished them,
asking for a second help, and remarking that her taste was good in that
as in all things. They lunched, eating like boys. They walked over the
grounds of Copsley, and into the lanes and across the meadows of the
cowslip, rattling, chatting, enlivening the frosty air, happy as