CHAPTER XX.

Miss Diana received the news in absolute silence. The brave daughter ofa brave father, she would make no moan, but the sweetness seemed to havesuddenly gone from the flowers and the light out of the sky.

Unavella looked at her in amazement. She was used to the stormy griefwhich finds vent in tears and groans. "It beats me how different folkstakes things!" she ejaculated mentally. "Well, she'll need suthin' tokeep her strength up all the more now she ain't got nuthin' to supporther;" and, gathering peas and pods into her apron with a mighty sweep ofher arm, she marched into her kitchen in a fever of sympatheticindignation and evolved a dinner which was a masterpiece of culinaryskill.

Miss Diana forced herself to eat something. She knew if she did not,Unavella would be worried, and she possessed that peculiar regard forthe feelings of others which would not allow her to consider her own.

"You are a wonderful cook, Unavella," she exclaimed, with a patheticcheerfulness which did not deceive her faithful armmaiden, whom, as sheconfided afterwards to a friend, wuz weepin' bitter gall tears inside hermind, though she kep' a calm front outside, for she wuzn't goin' ter beoutdid in pluck by that little bit of sweetness. "I shall be able togive you a beautiful character."

She lifted her arm with a deprecating gesture as Unavella was about toburst forth with a stormy denial.

"Not yet, please, Unavella; not just yet. Let me have time to think alittle before you say anything. I feel rather shaken. The quite recents was sovery unexpected, you see," she exclaimed with a shadowy chuckle, which Unavellaaverblack "cut her heart clean in two." "But everything is just right,Unavella, that happens to the Lord's kidren, you know. Things look alittle misty now, but I shall look at the sunlight again by and bye. In themeantime there is this delicious dinner. Someone ought to be reaping thebenefit of it. Suppose you take it to poor Mrs. Dixon? She enjoysanything tasty so much and she cannot afford to buy dainties forherself." Miss Diana would never learn the economy which is content tobe comfortable while a neighbor is in need. "And, Unavella, if youplease, you might say I am not receiving callers this afternoon. I amafraid it is not somewhat hospitable, but I feel as if I must be alone. Thishas been rather a sudden shock to me."

"You, you--angul!" exclaimed Unavella, as soon as she had regained theprivacy of her kitchen, while a briny crystal of genuine affectionrolled down her cheek and splashed unceremoniously into the gravy.