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. I feel heaps better now,
thank you."


[1] Anglice: foreigner.




CHAPTER V

THE SECOND MEETING

Diana threw hack the bedclothes and thrust an extremely pretty but
reluctant foot over the edge of the bed. She did not experience in the
least that sensation of exhilaration with which the idea of getting up
invariably seems to inspire the heroine of a novel, prompting her to
spring lightly from her couch and trip across to the window to see what
sort of weather the author has provided. On the contrary, she was
sorely tempted to snuggle down again amongst the pillows, but the
knowledge that it wanted only half an hour to breakfast-time exercised
a deterrent influence and she made her way with all haste to the
bath-room, somewhat shamefully pleased to reflect that, being Easter