Diana crossed the floor, and put her arm round the little gentle woman, whose breath was still shaken by the quiet sobs she was trying desperately to repress.
"Muriel, dear!--what is it?"
Mrs. Colwood found her voice, and her composure.
"Nothing! I was foolish--it doesn't matter."
Diana was sure she understood. She was suddenly ashamed to bring her own happiness into this desolate and widowed presence, and the kisses with which, mutely, she tried to comfort her friend, were almost a plea to be forgiven.
But Muriel drew herself away. She looked searchingly, with recovered self-command, into Diana's face.
"Has Mr. Marsham gone?"
"Yes," said Diana, looking at her.
Then the smile within broke out, flooding eyes and lips. Under the influence of it, Mrs. Colwood's small tear-stained face passed through a quick instinctive change. She, too, smiled as though she could not help it; then she bent forward and kissed Diana.
"Is it all right?"