"She? no," said Gertrude with a laugh; "nothing makes her uneasy.
Except thinking that Evan has fallen in love with somebody."
"She must expect that sooner or later," said Diana, with a calmness which told her companion nothing.
"Ah, but she would rather have it later. She don't want to lose Evan.
She is very proud of him."
"Would she lose him in such a case?" Diana asked, smiling, though she wished the talk ended.
"Why, you know brothers are good for nothing to sisters after they are married—worse! they are tantalizing. You are obliged to see what you used to have in somebody else's possession—and much more than ever you used to have; and it's tiresome. I'm glad I've no brothers. Basil is a good deal like a brother, and I am jealous of him."
"It must be very uncomfortable to be jealous," said Diana,
"Horrid! You saw a good deal of Evan, didn't you?"
A question that might have embarrassed Diana if she had not had an instant perception of the intent of it. She answered thereupon with absolute self-possession,
"I don't know what you would call a 'good deal.' I saw what I call a good deal of him that day in the blackberry field."
"Don't you think he is charming?"