"I would, if it were true," she said, smiling.
"No!--you are much too romantic. You see, I remember our conversations."
"Did I never admit the truth?"
"You would never admit it was the truth. And my difficulty was to find an arbiter between us."
Diana's face changed a little. He perceived it instantly.
"Your father was sometimes arbiter," he said, in a still lower tone--"but naturally he took your side. I shall always rejoice I had that chance of meeting him."
Diana said nothing, but her dark eyes turned on him with a soft friendly look. His own smiled in response, and he resumed:
"I suppose you don't know many of these people here?"
"Not any."
"I'm sure you'll like Mr. Ferrier. He is our very old friend--almost my guardian. Of course--on politics--you won't agree!"