“Wait!”
Diana flew up the stairs to the top of the house and in the spare room where she had intended putting the hired man and wife, she found Heloise sitting disconsolately on the edge of the bed, a suspicious wetness about her eyes. When the door was unlocked and flung open, the woman jumped up.
“Now, see here, Mrs. Selsbury,” she began in her high voice, “I don’t know the law of this country but you’ve no right to lock me in——”
“Do you want me to send for the police?” asked Diana, calm but menacing.
“I tell you you’re all wrong, Mrs. Selsbury,” said Heloise with great earnestness. “You’ve made the biggest mistake of your life. That poor fish is your husband.”
“I have no husband—fish, flesh, fowl or herring,” said Diana. “I never had a husband,” and then remembering, “I am a widow.”
Heloise was momentarily staggered.
“You can forget all that has happened to-day,” said Diana speaking a little wildly. “A visitor has come—he is staying in the house ... an old friend of mine ... in fact, I was once engaged to him until he died in the bush.”
“Is he here?” asked the startled Heloise.
“He is here,” nodded Diana, “and he is remaining. Obviously, I cannot allow him to stay unless I have a chaperone. You are,” she spoke deliberately, “Aunt Lizzie.”