It is doubtful whether Priscilla Paget had ever communicated these facts in any set phrase, but in a boarding-school such things make themselves known, and the girls had discussed the delinquencies of that dreadful creature, Captain Paget, very freely in the security of their dormitories.
Charlotte knew that her dearest friend was not a person whom it was advantageous to know.

She had seen Diana depart ignominiously, and return mysteriously after an absence of some years, very shabby, very poor, very sombre and melancholy, and with no inclination to talk of those years of absence.

Miss Halliday had known all this, and had asked no questions.

She took the returned wanderer to her heart, and cherished her with an affection which was far beyond the average measure of sisterly love.
"I thought I should never see you again, dear," she cried when she and Diana had retired to a corner of the schoolroom to talk confidentially on the morning of Miss Paget's return; "and I missed you so cruelly.
Other girls are very nice and very kind to me.

There is a new girl, Miss Spencer--that girl with flaxen hair, standing by the big Canterbury--whom I get on with delightfully; but there is no one in the world like you, Di.