Diana noticed that he towered over the men among whom he stood; and she felt herself suddenly delighting in his height, in his voice which was remarkably refined and agreeable, in his whole capable and masterful presence.

Bobbie Forbes standing beside him was dwarfed to insignificance, and he seemed to be conscious of it, for he rose on his toes a little, involuntarily copying Marsham's attitude, and looking up at him.
As the shooters departed, Forbes bringing up the rear, Lady Niton laid her wrinkled hand on his arm.
"Never mind, Bobbie, never mind!"-- she smiled at him confidentially.

"We can't all be six foot." Bobbie stared at her--first fiercely--then exploded with laughter, shook off her hand and departed.
Lady Niton, evidently much pleased with herself, came back to the window where most of the other ladies stood watching the shooters with their line of beaters crossing the lawn toward the park beyond.

"Ah!" she said, "I thought Alicia would see the last of them!" For Miss Drake, in defiance of wind and spitting rain, was walking over the lawn the centre of a large group, with Marsham beside her.

Her white serge dress and the blue shawl she had thrown over her fair head made a brilliant spot in the dark wavering line.
"Alicia is very picturesque," said Mrs.Fotheringham, turning away.
"Yes--and last summer Oliver seemed to be well aware of it," said Lady Niton, in her ear.
"Was he?
He has always been very good friends with Alicia." "He could have done without the waistcoat," said Lady Niton, sharply.
"Aren't you rather unkind?
She began it last summer, and finished it yesterday.