f their hearts remained still to
be captured.

Hugh, meanwhile, was not yet gone, though he was within a fortnight of
departure. He was coming to luncheon, with his parents, in order to
support Diana. The family had seen Miss Merton some two or three times,
and were all strongly of opinion that Diana very much wanted supporting.
"Why should one be civil to one's cousin?" Dr. Roughsedge inquired of
his wife. "If they are nice, let them stand on their own merits. If
not, they are disagreeable people who know a deal too much about you.
Miss Diana should have consulted me!"

The Roughsedges arrived early, and found Diana alone in the
drawing-room. Again Captain Roughsedge thought her pale, and was even
sure that she had lost flesh. This time it was hardly possible to put
these symptoms down to Marsham's account. He chafed under the thought
that he should be no longer there in case a league, offensive and
defensive, had in the end to be made with Mrs. Colwood for the handling
of cousins. It was quite clear that Miss Fanny was a vulgar little minx,
and that Beechcote would have no peace till it was rid of her.
Meanwhile, the indefinable change which had come over his mother's face,
during the preceding week, had escaped even the quick eyes of an
affectionate son. Alas! for mothers--when Lalage appears!

Mr. Birch arrived to the minute, and when he was engaged in affable
conversation with Diana, Fanny, last of the party--the door being
ceremoniously thrown open by the butler--entered, with an air. Mr. Birch
sprang effusively to his feet, and there was a noisy greeting between
him and his travelling companion. The young man was slim, and
effeminately good-looking. His frock-coat and gray trousers were new and
immaculate; his small feet were encased in shining patent-leather boots,
and his blue eyes gave the impression of having been carefully matched
with his tie. He was evidently delighted to find himself at Beechcote,
and it might have been divined that there was a spice of malice in his
pleasure. The Vavasours had always snubbed him; Miss Mallory herself had
not been over-polite to him on one or two occasions; but her cousin was
a "stunner," and, secure in Fanny's exuberant favor, he made himself
quite at home. Placed on Diana's left at table, he gave her much voluble
information about her neighbors, mostly ill-natured; he spoke familiarly
of "that clever chap Marsham," as of a politician who owed his election
for the div