Part 9 (1/2)

”I can take you to her if you'll come,” said Scott.

”Oh, can you? Yes, I'll come. I can come now. But are you sure she will like it?” Dinah's bright eyes met his with frank directness. ”I don't want to intrude on her, you know,” she said.

He smiled a little. ”I am sure you won't intrude. Shall we go then? Are you sure there is no one else you want to dance with here?”

”Oh, quite sure.” Again momentarily Dinah's look sought her late partner; then briskly she stood up.

Scott rose also, and gave her his arm. She bestowed a small, friendly squeeze upon it. ”I've never enjoyed myself so much before,” she said.

”And it's all your doing.”

”Oh, not really!” he said.

She nodded vigorously. ”But it is! I should never have been presentable but for you. And I should certainly never have danced with your brother.

He has actually promised to help me with my skating to-morrow. Isn't it kind of him?”

”I wonder,” said Scott.

”What do you wonder?” Dinah looked at him curiously.

But he only smiled a baffling smile, and turned the subject. ”Wouldn't you like something to drink before we go up?”

Dinah declined. She was not in the least thirsty. She did not feel as if she would ever want to eat or drink again.

”Only to dance!” said Scott. ”Well, I mustn't keep you long then. Who is that lady making signs to you? Hadn't you better go and speak to her?”

”Oh, bother!” said Dinah. ”You come too, then. It's only Lady Grace--Rose's mother. I'm sure it can't be anything important.”

Scott piloted her across the vestibule to the couch on which Lady Grace sat. She was a large, fair woman with limpid eyes and drawling speech.

She extended a plump white hand to the girl.

”Dinah, my dear, I think you have had almost enough for to-night. And they were so very behind time in starting. Your mother would not like you to stay up late, I feel sure. You had better go to bed when this dance is over. You are not accustomed to dissipation, remember.”

A swift cloud came over Dinah's bright face. ”Oh, but, Lady Grace, I'm not in the least tired. And I'm not a baby, you know. I'm nearly twenty.

I really couldn't go yet.”

”You will have plenty more opportunities, dear,” said Lady Grace, quite unruffled. ”Rose has decided to retire after this dance, and I shall do the same. The Colonel is suffering with dyspepsia, and he does not wish us to be late.”

Dinah bit her lip. ”Oh, very well,” she said somewhat shortly; and to Scott, ”We had better go at once then.”

He led her away obediently. They ascended the stairs together.

As they reached the top of the flight Dinah's indignation burst its bounds. ”Isn't it too bad? Why should I go to bed just because the Colonel's got dyspepsia? I don't believe it's that at all really. It's Rose who can't bear to think that I am having as good a time--or Better--than she is.”

”May I say what I think?” asked Scott politely.

She stopped, facing him. ”Yes, do!”

He was smiling somewhat whimsically. ”I think that--like Cinderella--you may break the spell if you stay too long.”