Part 38 (1/2)

But it was Scott who succeeded with the utmost gentleness in discovering the trouble. He came in late in the morning and sat down beside her for a few minutes.

”I have been writing letters for my brother,” he said in his quiet way, ”or I should have called for news of you sooner. Isabel tells me you have had a bad night.”

Dinah's face was flushed and her eyes very bright. ”I heard the dance-music in the distance,” she said nervously. ”It--it made me want to go and dance.”

”I am sorry it disturbed you,” he said gently. ”It was only that then?

You weren't really troubled about anything?”

She hesitated, then, meeting the kindness of his look, her eyes suddenly filled with tears. She turned her head away in silence.

He leaned towards her. ”Is there anything you want?” he said. ”Tell me what it is! I will get it for you if it is humanly possible.”

”I know--I know!” faltered Dinah, and hid her face in the pillow.

He waited a moment or two, then laid a very gentle hand upon her dark head. ”Don't cry, little one!” he said softly. ”Tell me what it is!”

”I can't,” murmured Dinah.

”You wanted to go and dance,” said Scott sympathetically. ”Was it just that?”

”Not--just--that!” she whispered forlornly.

”I thought not. You were wanting something more than that. What was it?”

She tried not to tell him. She would have given almost all she had to keep silence on the subject; but somehow she had to speak. Under the pressure of that kind hand, she could not maintain her silence any longer.

”I was thinking of--of your brother,” she told him with tears. ”I was wondering if--if he were dancing, and--and I not there!”

It was out at last, and she hid her face in overwhelming shame because she had given him a glimpse of her secret heart which none had ever seen before. She wondered with anguish what he thought of her, if she had forfeited his good opinion of her for ever, if indeed he would ever speak to her with kindness again.

And then very quietly he did speak, and in a moment all her anxiety was gone. ”He may have been dancing,” he said. ”But I believe he has been very bored ever since the weather broke. I wonder if he might come and see you. Would it be too much for you? Should you mind?”

”Mind!” Dinah's tears were gone in a flash. She turned s.h.i.+ning eyes upon him. ”But would he come?” she said, with sudden misgiving. ”Wouldn't that bore him too?”

Scott smiled at her in a way that set her mind wholly at rest. ”No, I think not,” he said. ”When shall he come? This evening?”

Dinah slipped a confiding hand into his. She felt that now Scott knew and was not scandalized, there was no further need for embarra.s.sment. ”Oh, just any time,” she said. ”But hadn't I better get up? It would look better, wouldn't it?”

”I don't know about that,” said Scott. ”You had better ask the doctor.”

Dinah's face flushed red. ”Need the doctor know?” she asked him shyly. ”I am--so afraid of his saying I am well enough to go home. And that--that will end everything.”

”He shan't say that,” Scott promised, still smiling in the fas.h.i.+on that so warmed her heart. ”I will drop him a hint.”

”Oh, you are good!” Dinah said very earnestly. ”I think you are the kindest man I have ever met.”

He laughed at that. ”My dear, it is easy to be kind to you,” he said.