Diana went in obediently and sat down in the chair by the window. She could see nothing but the court enclosed on four sides by the old brick building, and shaded in the centre by the slender tree of heaven. There was no possible view of the street from this room. Opposite the door was the blank wall of the hall; on the other side of that wall were the rooms of the Registrar of Wills and the Probate Court. Outside the door a spiral iron staircase ascended to the offices of the State’s attorney; around the corner was the elevator and to this Colonel Royall went.
Diana leaned back in her chair and surveyed the chill little room; on the walls were written various reflections of waiting prisoners. None were as eloquent as Sir Walter Raleigh’s message to the world, but several meant the same thing in less heroic English. The colonel had been gone ten minutes, and his daughter was watching the branches of the tree as they stirred slightly, as if touched by some tremulous breath, for no wind could reach them here.
It was then that she heard a quick step in the corridor and knew it intuitively. She was not surprised when Caleb Trench stopped involuntarily at the door. They had scarcely met in two months, but the color rushed into her face; she seemed to see him again in the spring woods, though now the hedgerows were showing goldenrod. Involuntarily, too, she rose and they stood facing each other. She tried to speak naturally, but nothing but a platitude came to her lips.
“I congratulate you,� she said foolishly, “on your victory.�
“Miss Royall, I am sorry that everything I do seems like a personal attack upon your people,� he replied at once, and he had never appeared to better advantage; “like the spiteful revenge of a foolish duellist, a sensational politician. Will you do me the justice to believe that my position is painful?�
Diana looked at him and hated herself because her breath came so short; was she afraid of him? Perish the thought! “I always try to be just,� she began with dignity, and then finished lamely, “of course we are a prejudiced people at Eshcol.�
“You are like people everywhere,� he replied; “we all have our prejudices. I wish mine were less. There is one thing I would like to say to you, Miss Royall—� He stopped abruptly, and raised his head. Their eyes met, and Diana knew that he was thinking of Jean Bartlett; she turned crimson.
There was a long silence.
“I shall not say it,� he said, and his strong face saddened. What right had he to thrust his confidence upon her? “You are waiting for your father?� he added; “may I not escort you to another room? This—is not suitable.� He wanted to add that he was amazed at the colonel for leaving her there; he did not yet fully understand the old man’s simplicity.
“I prefer to stay here,� Diana replied, a little coldly; “my father knows I am here.�