Alcott, Louisa May - SSC 15 by Plots (and) Counterplots (v1.1)

absurd charge, Miss
Stuart?"
                 Entirely
disconcerted by the quickness with which her distrust had been seen and
exposed, Diana could only look guilty, apologize, and find herself convicted of an unjust suspicion. Mrs. Vane received her atonement graciously,
and wrapping her shawl about her, went away to bed, with a mischievous smile
shining in her eyes as she bowed to Douglas ,
whose glance followed her till the last glimpse of the violet dress
disappeared.
     

Chapter V
     
    TREASON
     
                 THE
week passed gaily enough, externally, but to several of the party it was a very
dreary and very memorable week. George Lennox basked in the light of Mrs.
Vane’s smiles, and his mother began to hope that Douglas would not take her at her word, but leave
her son to woo and win the bonny widow, if he could. Earl watched and waited
for Diana to relent, pleading with his eyes, though
never a word of submission or appeal passed his lips. And poor Diana, hoping to
conquer him, silenced the promptings of her reason, and stood firm, when a
yielding look, a tender word, would have overcome his pride, and healed the
breach. She suffered much, but told no one her pain till the last day came.
Then, driven by the thought that a few hours would seal her fate, she resolved
to appeal to Mrs. Vane. She knew the mystery; she professed to pity her. She
was a woman, and to her this humiliation would not be so hard, this confession
so impossible.
                 Diana
haunted the hall and drawing rooms all that morning, hoping to find Mrs. Vane
alone. At last, just before lunch, she caught her playing with Earl’s spaniel,
while she waited for Lennox to bring her hat from the garden seat where
she had left it.
                 “Be
so kind as to take a turn with me on the balcony, Mrs. Vane. I wish much to say
a few words to you,” began Diana, with varying color and anxious eyes, as she
met her at the great hall door.
                 “With pleasure. Give me your arm, and let us have our little
chat quite comfortably together. Can I do anything for you, my dear Miss
Stuart? Pray speak freely, and, believe me, I desire to be your friend.”
                 So
kind, so cordial was the tone, the look, that poor Diana felt comforted at
once; and bending her stately head to the bright one at her side, she said,
with a sad humility, which proved how entirely her love had subdued her pride,
“I hope so, Mrs. Vane, for I need a friend. You, and
you alone, can help me. I humble myself to you; I forget not my own misgivings.
I endeavor to see in you only a woman younger, yet wiser than myself, who,
knowing my sore necessity, will help me by confessing the share she bears in
the secret that is destroying my peace.”
                 “I
wish I could! I wish I dared! I have thought of it often; have longed to do it
at all costs; and then remembering my vow, I have held my peace!”
                 “Assure
me of one thing and I will submit. I will ask Allan to forgive me, and I will
be happy in my ignorance, if I can. He told me that this mystery would not
stain his honor, or mar my peace if it were known. Mrs. Vane, is this true?”
asked Diana solemnly.
                 “No;
a man's honor is not tarnished in his eyes by treachery to a woman, and he
believes that a woman's peace will not be marred by the knowledge that in God's
sight she is not his wife, although she may be in the eyes of the world.”
                 “Mrs.
Vane, I conjure you to tell me what you mean! I have a right to know; it is
your duty to save me from sin and sorrow if you can, and I will make any
promise you exact to keep eternally secret whatever you may tell me. If you
fear Douglas , he shall never know that you have broken
your vow, whether I marry or discard him. Have pity upon me, I implore you, for
this day must make or mar my life!”