.

This morning's paper says there were forty people killed." Diana gave a little nervous shiver, and then quite suddenly began to cry.
Stair quietly took the reins from her hand, and patted her shoulder, but he made no effort to check her tears.

He had felt worried all morning by her curious detachment concerning the accident; it was unnatural, and he feared that later on the shock which she must have received might reveal itself in some abnormal nervousness regarding railway travelling.

These tears would bring relief, and he welcomed them, allowing her to cry, comfortably leaning against his shoulder, as the pony meandered up the hilly lane which led to the Rectory.
At the gates they both descended from the trap, and Stair was preparing to lead the pony into the stable-yard when Diana suddenly flung her arms round him, kissing him impulsively.
"Oh, Pobs, dear," she said half-laughing, half-crying.

"You're such a darling--you always understand everything.