The son of Miss Bertram's coachman had only just missed an appointment under the District Council by one place on the list of candidates.

A "Red Van" bursting with Socialist literature had that morning taken up its place on the village green; and Diana's poor housemaid, in payment for a lifetime's neglect, must now lose every tooth in her head, according to the verdict of the local dentist, an excellent young man, in Mrs.Roughsedge's opinion, but ready to give you almost too much pulling out for your money.

On all these topics she overflowed--with much fun and unfailing good-humor.

So that after half an hour spent with Mrs.Roughsedge and Hugh in the little drawing-room at the White Cottage, Diana's aspect was very different from what it had been when she arrived.
Hugh, however, had noticed her pallor and depression.

He was obstinately certain that Oliver Marsham was not the man to make such a girl happy.
Between the rich Radical member and the young officer--poor, slow of speech and wits, and passionately devoted to the old-fashioned ideals and traditions in which he had been brought up--there was a natural antagonism.