Part 60 (1/2)

He came to her and took her very gently by the arm. Dinah's shoulders were shaking. She could not lift her face.

”Why--why shouldn't your dream come true too?” she sobbed. ”You--who help everybody--to get what they want!”

”My dear,” Scott said, ”my dream is over. Don't you grieve on my account!

G.o.d knows I'm not grieving for myself.” His voice was low, but very steadfast.

”You wouldn't!” said Dinah.

”No; because it's futile, unnecessary, a waste of time. I've other things to do--plenty of other things.” Scott braced himself with the words, as one who manfully lifts a burden. ”Cheer up, Dinah! I didn't mean to make you sad.”

”But--but--are you sure--quite sure--she didn't care?” faltered Dinah, rubbing her eyes woefully.

”Quite sure,” said Scott, with decision.

Dinah threw him a sudden, flas.h.i.+ng glance of indignation. ”Then she was a donkey, Scott, a fool--an idiot!” she declared, with trembling vehemence.

”I'd like--oh, how I'd like--to tell her so.”

Scott was smiling, his own, whimsical smile. ”Yes, wouldn't you?” he said. ”And it's awfully nice of you to say so. But do you know, you're quite wrong. She wasn't any of those things. On the other hand, I was all three. But where's the use of talking? It's over, and a good thing too!”

Dinah slipped a quivering hand over his. ”We'll always be friends, won't we, Scott?” she said tremulously.

”Always,” said Scott.

She squeezed his hand hard, and in response his fingers pressed her arm.

His steady eyes looked straight into hers.

And in the silence, there came to Dinah a queer stirring of uncertainty,--the uncertainty of one who just begins to suspect that he is on the wrong road.

The moment pa.s.sed, and they talked again of lighter things, but the mood of irresponsible light-heartedness had gone. When they finally left the Dower House, Dinah felt that she trod the earth once more.

”I shall come and see you very often when we come back,” she said rather wistfully. ”I hope Eustace won't want to be away a very long time.”

”Aren't you looking forward to your honeymoon?” asked Scott.

”I don't know,” said Dinah, and paused. ”I really don't know. But,”

brightening, ”I'm sure the wedding will be great fun.”

”I hope it will,” said Scott kindly.

It was not till they were nearing Willowmount that Dinah asked him at length hesitatingly about Isabel.

”Do you mind telling me? Is she worse?”

Scott also hesitated a little before he answered. Then: ”In one sense she is much better,” he said. ”But physically,” he paused, ”physically she is losing ground.”

”Oh, Scott!” Dinah looked at him with swift dismay. ”But why--why? Can nothing be done?”