The Black Moth

Miss Betty drew her head down on to her shoulder soothingly.

"There, there! Don't cry, my sweet! What has happened?"

"'Tis that odious Mr. Bettison!" sobbed Diana "He--he had the audacityto ask me to m-marry him!"

"You don't say so, my love! I thought I heard him arrive. So you senthim about his business?"

"N-not before he had time to insult m-me!"

"Insult you? Di!"

"He--he dared to insinuate--oh no! he accused me outright--of beinginfatuated by Mr. Carr! Infatuated!"

Over her head Miss Betty opened her eyes at her own reflection in theglass.

"The brute! But, of course, 'tis true?"

No answer.

"Is it not?"

The sobs came faster.

"Of--of course 'tis true, but h-how dared he say so?"

"Di, my love, you really are in love with that boy?"

"I--I--I asked him to marry me--and he wouldn't!"

"Good gracious heavens!" Miss Betty was genuinely horrified. "My dearDiana!"

"N-not outright--b-but he understood--and--he loves me! And I'd do itagain to-morrow, if I could--immodest or no! So there!"

"Yes, yes," soothed Miss Betty hastily. "Tell me all about it." Dianalifted her head.

"That's all. And he loves me--he does--he does!"

"Did he say so?"

"N-no--but I could tell. And I love him"--sob--"and I'd sooner die thanlive without him, and he won't ask me b-because he has not got aspotless p-past, and he'd be a cur, and horrid things, and my husbandmust not be an--an--outcast, and-and--and I don't care!"

Her bewildered aunt unravelled this with difficulty.

"He'd be a cur if he asked you to marry him?" she asked, with knittedbrows.

"Yes. Because he's a highwayman."

"A highwayman! Then 'twas true what he said? Well, well! I should neverhave thought it! That nice boy!"

Diana disengaged herself; in her eyes was a threatening gleam.

"Don't dare say a word against him!"

"No, no--of course not! I was only surprised. But I am thankfully gladhe did not ask you, for all that!"

"Glad? H

ow can you be so cruel?"