and whether she would see him when he came. To see him again! The
thought of that possibility seemed like a spot of vivid light, which
dazzled her eyes and made them blind to anything around or beyond it.
As for this offer of a strange home in the household of Mr. Sheldon, it
seemed to her a matter of so very little importance where she went or
what became of her, that she was quite willing to let other people
decide her existence. Anything would be better than the monotony of
Hyde Lodge. If Valentine Hawkehurst came to see her at Mr. Sheldon's
house, he would be permitted to see her alone, most likely, and it
would be something like the old times; whereas at the Lodge Priscilla
Paget or one of the governesses would undoubtedly be present at any
interview between Diana and her old friend, and the real Valentine
would be hidden under the semblance of a respectable young man, with
very little to say for himself. Perhaps this one thought exercised
considerable influence over Miss Paget's decision. She wanted so much
to see Valentine alone, to know whether he had changed, to see his face
at the first moment of meeting, and to discover, if possible, the
solution of that enigma which was the grand mystery of her life--that
one perpetual question which was always repeating itself in her
brain--whether he was altogether cold and indifferent, or if there was
not some hidden warmth, some secret tenderness beneath that repelling
outward seeming.

In the afternoon Miss Halliday called with Mrs. Sheldon, and there was
a long discussion about Diana Paget's future life. Georgy abandoned
herself as unhesitatingly to the influence of her daughter as she did
to that of her husband, and had been brought to think that it would be
the most delightful thing in the world to have Miss Paget for a useful
companion.

"And will you really make my caps, dear?" she said, when she had grown
at her ease with Diana. "Miss Terly in the Bayswater-road charges me so
much for the simplest little lace head-dress; and though Mr. Sheldon is
very good about those sort of things, I know he sometimes thinks my
bills rather high."

Diana was very indifferent about her future, and the heart must have
been very hard which could have resisted Charlotte's tender pleading;
so it was ultimately decided that Miss Paget should write to her
kinswoman to describe the offer that had been made to her of a new
home, and to inquire if her services could be conveniently di