“And why shouldn’t she?”
“Because I wouldn’t allow it—”
At that Diana laughed so much that Uncle Marcus came to see what she was laughing at. Had she had a letter from Elsie?—forgetting this was not post-time—and he saw to his great amazement a long-legged, very nice-looking young man (the right sort of young man) sitting quite close to Diana and laughing just as much as Diana was laughing and apparently with as little reason.
“My dear Diana—” he said.
“Oh, here’s some one to see the house and we’re fighting about his wife.”
“Wife?” A smile broke upon the lips of Marcus—thank goodness, this man was married.
“And he hasn’t got one,” said Diana.
“Not got one?”
“Not yet,” said Hastings; “the fact of the matter is—I am just back from abroad. Perhaps I should tell you at once that I am Miles Hastings, one of Sir Eustace Carston’s A.D.C.’s—and—”
Of course Marcus vowed it was the most extraordinary thing that had ever happened! Of course, he must stay with them. His luggage should be sent for. Marcus pulled the bell-rope and it came down. Diana said it always did, and she went to call Pillar.