Diana sat snubbed and silent, a little provincial outsider, for whom "seasons" are not made.

Nor was it any better with Mrs.Fotheringham.At twelve o'clock that lady brought the London papers into the drawing-room.

Further information had been received from the Afghan frontier.

The English loss in the engagement already reported was greater than had been at first supposed; and Diana found the name of an officer she had known in India among the dead.

As she pondered the telegram, the tears in her eyes, she heard Mrs.Fotheringham describe the news as "on the whole very satisfactory." The nation required the lesson.