Part 40 (1/2)

”Not very,” Dinah admitted. ”But being away makes it seem much worse. I have been so spoilt with you.”

Isabel smiled. ”I only wish I could keep you always, dear child.”

Dinah drew a sharp breath. ”Oh, if you only could!” she said.

Isabel pressed her to her heart, and laid her down. ”I must get you back to bed, dear,” she said. ”We have talked too long already.”

Late that night Isabel went softly to the door in answer to a low knock, and found Scott on the threshold.

She lifted a warning finger. ”She is asleep.”

”That's right,” he said quietly. ”I only came to say good night to you.

Are you going to bed now?”

She looked at him with a faint smile in her shadowed eyes. ”I daresay I shall go some time,” she said; then seeing the concern in his eyes: ”Don't worry about me, Stumpy dear. I don't sleep a great deal, you know; but I rest.”

He took her arm and drew her gently outside the room. ”I want you to take care of yourself now that she is safe,” he said. ”Will you try?”

The smile still lingered in her eyes. She bent her stately neck to kiss him. ”Oh yes, dear; I shall be all right,” she said. ”It does me good to have the little one to think of.”

”I know,” he said. ”But don't wear yourself out! Remember, you are not strong.”

”Nothing I can do for her would be too much,” she answered with quick feeling. ”Think--think what she has done for me!”

”For us all,” said Scott gently. ”But all the same, dear, you can spare a little thought for yourself now.” He hesitated momentarily, then: ”I think Eustace would like to see more of you,” he said, speaking with a touch of diffidence.

She made a sharp gesture of impatience. ”Why did you send him to disturb the child's peace?”

”She wanted him,” said Scott simply.

”Ah!” Isabel stood tense for a second. ”And he?” she questioned.

”He was quite pleased to see her again,” said Scott.

She grasped his arm suddenly. ”Stumpy, don't let him break her heart!”

He met her look with steadfast eyes. ”He shall not do that,” he said, with inflexible resolution.

Her hold became a grip. ”Can you prevent it? You know what he is”

”Oh yes, I know,” very steadily Scott made answer. ”But you needn't be afraid, Isabel. He shall not do that.”

A measure of relief came into her drawn face. ”Thank you, Stumpy,” she said. ”I was horribly afraid--when I saw him just now--and she, poor child, so innocently glad to have him!”

”You needn't be afraid,” he reiterated. ”Eustace is too much of a sportsman to amuse himself at the expense of an unsophisticated child like that.”

Isabel suppressed a s.h.i.+ver. ”I don't think he is so scrupulous as you imagine,” she said. ”We must watch, Stumpy; we must watch.”

He patted her arm with his quiet smile. ”And we mustn't let ourselves get over-anxious,” he said. ”Now go to bed, like a dear girl! You are looking absolutely worn out.”