s might be. The butler entered.

"Sir James Chide, ma'am, and Miss Drake. They have ridden over from
Overton Park, and didn't think it was so far. They told me to say they
didn't wish to disturb you at luncheon, and might they have a cup
of coffee?"

Diana excused herself, and hurried out. Mr. Birch explained at length to
Mrs. Colwood and Fanny that Overton Park belonged to the Judge, Sir
William Felton; that Sir James Chide was often there; and no doubt Miss
Drake had been invited for the ball of the night before; awfully smart
affair!--the coming-out ball of the youngest daughter.

"Who is Miss Drake?" asked Fanny, thinking enviously of the ball, to
which she had not been invited. Mr. Birch turned to her with
confidential jocosity.

"Lady Lucy Marsham's cousin; and it is generally supposed that she might
by now have been something else but for--"

He nodded toward the chair at the head of the table which Diana had left
vacant.

"Whatever do you mean?" said Fanny. The Marshams to her were, so far,
mere shadows. They represented rich people on the horizon whom Diana
selfishly wished to keep to herself.

"I'm telling tales, I declare I am!" said Mr. Birch. "Haven't you seen
Mr. Oliver Marsham yet, Miss Merton?"

"No. I don't know anything about him."

"Ah!" said Mr. Birch, smiling, and peeling an apple with deliberation.

Fanny flushed.

"Is there anything up--between him and Diana?" she said in his ear.

Mr. Birch smiled again.

"I saw old Mr. Vavasour the other day--clients of ours, you understand.
A close-fisted old boy, Miss Merton. They imagined they'd get a good
deal out of your cousin. But not a bit of it. Oliver Marsham does all
her business for her. The Vavasours don't like it, I can tell you."

"I haven't seen either him or Lady Lucy--is that her name?--since I
came."

"Let me see. You came about a fortnight ago--just when Parliament
reassembled. Mr. Marsham is our member. He and Lady Lucy went up to town
the day before Parliament met."

"And what about Miss Drake?"

"Ah!--poor Miss Drake!" Mr. Birch raised a humorous eyebrow. "Those
little things will happen, won't they? It was just at Christmas, I
understand, that your cousin paid her first visit to Tallyn. A man who
was shooting there told me all about it."

"And Miss Drake was there too?"

Mr. Birch nodded.

"And Diana cut her out?" said Fanny, bending toward him eagerly.

Mr. Birch smiled again. Voices were heard in the hall, bu