Diana made no answer.
"How does your girl get along?"
"Very well. Pretty well."
"What you want with a girl, I don't see."
"I didn't either. But Mr. Masters wants me to do other things."
"Set you up to be a lady! Well, the world's full o' fools."
"I am as busy, mother, as ever I was in my life."
"Depends on what you call business. Making yourself unfit for business, I should say. Call it what you like. I suppose he is your humble servant, and just gives you your own way."
"He is not that sort of man at all, mother. He is as kind as he can be; but he is nobody's humble servant."
"Then I suppose you are his. There is somebody now, Diana; it's Kate Boddington. Do go in and take care of her,—you can do so much,—and keep her from coming out here where I am."