It was as though he had been forced thither by a resistless fate which there was no eluding--for, on his own confession, he had deliberately sought to avoid meeting her again.
His whole attitude was utterly incomprehensible--a study of violently opposing contrasts.

Diana felt bruised and shaken by the fierce contradictions of his moods, the temperamental heat and ice which he had meted out to her.

It seemed as if he were fighting against the attraction she had for him, prepared to contest every inch of ground--discounting each look and word wrung from him in some moment of emotion by the mocking raillery with which he followed it up.
More than once he had hinted at some barrier, spoken of a shadow that dogged his steps, as if complete freedom of action were denied him.
Could it be--was it conceivable, that he was already married?
And at the thought Diana hid hot cheeks against her pillow, living over again that moment in the car--that moment which had suddenly called into being emotions before whose overmastering possibilities she trembled.
At length, mentally and physically weary, she dropped into an uneasy slumber, vaguely wondering what the morrow would bring forth.
It brought the unexpected news that the occupants of Red Gables had suddenly left for London by the morning train..