violently.

"Yes. Wouldn't have gone home with you in the dark for anything.
Murder."

"Diva dear," said Miss Mapp anxiously, "you've got a mind which likes to
put the worst construction on everything. If Mr. Wyse kisses his
intended you think things too terrible for words; if I look surprised
you think I'm full of hatred and malice. Be more generous, dear. Don't
put evil constructions on all you see."

"Ho!" said Diva with a world of meaning.

"I don't know what you intend to convey by ho," said Miss Mapp, "and I
shan't try to guess. But be kinder, darling, and it will make you
happier. Thinketh no evil, you know! Charity!"

Diva felt that the limit of what was tolerable was reached when
Elizabeth lectured her on the need of charity, and she would no doubt
have explained tersely and unmistakably exactly what she meant by "Ho!"
had not Withers opportunely entered to clear away tea. She brought a
note with her, which Miss Mapp opened. "Encourage me to hope," were the
first words that met her eye: Mrs. Poppit had been encouraging him to
hope again.

"To dine at Mr. Wyse's to-morrow," she said. "No doubt the announcement
will be made then. He probably wrote it before he went to the station.
Yes, a few friends. You going, dear?"

Diva instantly got up.

"Think I'll run home and see," she said. "By the by, Elizabeth, what
about the--the teagown, if I go? You or I?"

"If yours is all covered with chocolate, I shouldn't think you'd like to
wear it," said Miss Mapp.

"Could tuck it away," said Diva, "just for once. Put flowers. Then send
it to dyer's. You won't see it again. Not crimson-lake, I mean."

Miss Mapp summoned the whole of her magnanimity. It had been put to a
great strain already and was tired out, but it was capable of one more
effort.

"Wear it then," she said. "It'll be a treat to you. But let me know if
you're not asked. I daresay Mr. Wyse will want to keep it very small.
Good-bye, dear; I'm afraid you'll get very wet going home."

CHAPTER XI

The sea-mist and the rain continued without intermission next morning,
but shopping with umbrellas and mackintoshes was unusually brisk, for
there was naturally a universally felt desire to catch sight of a
Contessa with as little delay as possible. The foggy conditions perhaps
added to the excitement, for it was not possible to see more than a few
yards, and thus at any moment anybody might almost run into her. Diva's
impressions, meagre though