And Mrs.Roughsedge, however she might feel herself eclipsed by Lady Lucy, was, in truth, much more fit to minister to such ruffled feelings as Diana was now conscious of than that delicate and dignified lady.

Diana's disillusion about her cousin was, so far, no very lofty matter.

It hurt; but on her run to the village the natural common-sense Mrs.Colwood had detected had wrestled stoutly with her wounded feelings.

Better take it with a laugh! To laugh, however, one must be distracted; and Mrs.Roughsedge, bubbling over with gossip and good-humor, was distraction personified.

Stern Justice, in the person of Lord M.'s gamekeeper, had that morning brought back Diana's two dogs in leash, a pair of abject and convicted villains, from the delirium of a night's hunting.