They therefore expressed no surprise when, on leaving the table, Diana pleaded a severe headache as an excuse for retiring to her own room.

When once she was alone, having dismissed her maid, she heaved a deep sigh of relief.

She never thought of retiring to bed, but throwing open her window, leaned out with her elbow on the window-sill.
It seemed to her that Norbert would certainly make some effort to see her, or at any rate by some means to let her know whether he had succeeded or failed.
"But I must be patient," murmured she, "for I can't hear anything until the afternoon of to-morrow." In spite, however, of her resolutions, patience fled from her mind, and as soon as the servants had begun moving about, she went out into the garden and took up a position which commanded a view of the highroad, but no one appeared.

The bell rang for breakfast.

Again she had to seat herself at table with her parents, and the terrible penance of the past evening had to be repeated.