t before the
new guests entered, the young man put up a finger to his lips:

"Don't you quote me, please, Miss Merton. But, I can tell you, your
cousin's very high up in the running just now. And Oliver Marsham will
have twenty thousand a year some day if he has a penny. Miss Mallory
hasn't told you anything--hasn't she? Ha--ha! Still waters, you
know--still waters!"

* * * * *

A few minutes later Sir James Chide was seated between Diana and Fanny
Merton, Mr. Birch having obligingly vacated his seat and passed to the
other side of the table, where his attempts at conversation were coldly
received by Miss Drake. That young lady dazzled the eyes of Fanny, who
sat opposite to her. The closely fitting habit and black riding-hat gave
to her fine figure and silky wealth of hair the maximum of effect. Fanny
perfectly understood that only money and fashion could attain to Miss
Drake's costly simplicity. She envied her from the bottom of her heart;
she would have given worlds to see the dress in which she had figured at
the ball. Miss Drake, no doubt, went to two or three balls a week, and
could spend anything she liked upon her clothes.

Yet Diana had cut her out--Diana was to carry off the prize! Twenty
thousand a year! Fanny's mind was in a ferment--the mind of a raw and
envious provincial, trained to small ambitions and hungry desires. Half
an hour before, she had been writing a letter home, in a whirl of
delight and self-glorification. The money Diana had promised would set
the whole family on its legs, and Fanny had stipulated that after the
debts were paid she was to have a clear, cool hundred for her own
pocket, and no nonsense about it. It was she who had done it all, and
if it hadn't been for her, they might all have gone to the workhouse.
But now her success was to her as dross. The thought of Diana's future
wealth and glory produced in her a feeling which was an acute physical
distress. So Diana was to be married!--and to the great _parti_ of the
neighborhood! Fanny already saw her in the bridal white, surrounded by
glittering bridesmaids; and a churchful of titled people, bowing before
her as she passed in state, like poppies under a breeze.

And Diana had never said a word to her about it--to her own cousin!
Nasty, close, mean ways! Fanny was not good enough for Tallyn--oh no!
_She_ was asked to Beechcote when there was nothing going on--or next to
nothing--and one might yawn on