She must be Diana's first and dearest--be admitted to all Diana's secrets and friendships.

Then on Diana's side, inevitable withdrawal, shrinking, self-defence--and on Fanny's a hotter and more acrid jealousy.
Meanwhile, as Mrs.Colwood knew, Diana had been engaged in correspondence with her solicitors, who had been giving her some prudent and rather stringent advice on the subject of income and expenditure.
This morning, so Mrs.Colwood believed, a letter had arrived.
Presently she stole out of her room to the head of the stairs.

There she remained, pale and irresolute, for a little while, listening to the sounds in the house.

But the striking of the hall clock, the sighing of a stormy wind round the house, and, occasionally, a sound of talking in the drawing-room, was all she heard.
* * * * * Diana had been busy in the hanging of some last pictures in the drawing-room--photographs from Italian pictures and monuments.

They had belonged to her father, and had been the dear companions of her childhood.