Part 47 (1/2)

In the morning she arose white-faced and weary, with dark shadows under her eyes, and a head that throbbed tormentingly. She breakfasted with Isabel in the latter's room, and was again deeply grateful to her friend for forbearing to comment upon her subdued manner. She could not make any pretence at cheerfulness that day, being in fact still so near to tears that she could scarcely keep from breaking down.

”Don't wait for me, dear!” Isabel said gently at length. ”I see you are not hungry. We are taking some provisions with us; perhaps you will feel more like eating presently.”

Dinah escaped very thankfully and returned to her own room.

Here she remained for awhile till more sure of herself; then Biddy came in to finish her packing and she slipped away to avoid the old woman's shrewd observation. She feared to go downstairs lest she should meet Scott; but presently, as she hovered in the pa.s.sage, she heard his halting tread in the main corridor.

He was evidently on his way to his sister's room, and seizing her opportunity, she ran like a hare in the opposite direction and managed to slip downstairs without adventure.

She was not to escape unnoticed, however. The first person she encountered in the vestibule came forward instantly at sight of her with the prompt.i.tude of one who has been lying in wait.

She recoiled with a gasp, but she could not run away. She was caught as surely as she had been the night before.

”Hullo!” smiled Sir Eustace, with extended hand. ”Going out for a last look round? May I come too?”

She felt the dominance of his grip. It was coolly, imperially possessive.

To answer his request seemed superfluous, even bordering upon presumption. It was obvious that he had every intention of accompanying her.

She gave a confused murmur of a.s.sent, and they pa.s.sed through the vestibule side by side. She was conscious of curious glances from several strangers who were standing about, and Eustace exchanged a few words with a species of regal condescension here and there as they went. And then they were out in the pure sunlight of the mountains, alone for the last time in their paradise of snow.

Almost instinctively Dinah turned up the winding track. They had half an hour before them, and she felt she could not bear to stand still. He strolled beside her, idly smoking, not troubling to make conversation, now as ever sublimely at his ease.

The snow sparkled around them like a thousand gems Dinah's eyes were burning and smarting with the brightness. And still that tender waltz-music ran lilting through her brain, drifting as it were through the mist of her unshed tears.

Suddenly he spoke. They were nearing the pine-wood and quite alone. ”Is there anything the matter?”

She choked down a great lump in her throat before she could speak in answer. ”No,” she murmured then. ”I--I am just--rather low about leaving; that's all.”

”Quite all?” he said.

His tone was so casual, so normal, that it seemed impossible now to think of last night's happening save as an extravagant dream. She almost felt for the moment as if she had imagined it all. And then he spoke again, and she caught a subtle note of tenderness in his voice that brought it all back upon her in an overwhelming rush.

”That's really all, is it? You're not unhappy about anything else? Scott hasn't been bullying you?”

She gasped at the question. ”Oh no! Oh no! He wouldn't! He couldn't!

I--haven't even seen him today.”

He received the information in silence; but in a moment or two he tossed away his cigarette with the air of a man having come to an abrupt resolution.

”And so you're fretting about going home?” he said.

She nodded mutely. The matter would not bear discussion.

”Poor little Daphne!” he said. ”It's been a good game, hasn't it?”

She nodded again. ”Just like the dreams that never come true,” she managed to say.

”Would you like it to come true?” he asked her unexpectedly.

She glanced up at him with a woeful little smile. ”It's no good thinking of that, is it?” she said.