Part 63 (1/2)
She hesitated. ”I was to have gone up to town with Isabel to shop,” she said.
”No, that isn't the reason,” he said. ”Tell me the reason!”
She made a quick gesture of appeal. ”I--wish you wouldn't ask,” she faltered, and suddenly she could meet his eyes no longer. She lowered her own, and sat before him in burning confusion.
”Have you asked yourself?” he said, his voice very low.
She was silent; the quiet question seemed to probe her through and through. There was no evading it.
Scott was still watching her very closely, very intently. He spoke at length, just as she was beginning to feel his scrutiny to be more than she could bear.
”If you are just shy with him--as I think you are--I think you ought to try and get over it, as much for his sake as for your own. You don't want to hurt him, do you? You wouldn't like him to be disappointed?”
Dinah shook her head. ”If you could come too!” she suggested, in a very small voice.
”No, I can't,” said Scott firmly.
She sent him a darting glance. ”Are you angry with me?” she said.
”I!” said Scott in amazement.
”You--spoke as if you were,” she said. ”And you looked--quite grim.”
He laughed a little. ”If you are afraid of me, you must indeed be easily frightened. No, of course I am not angry. Dinah! Dinah! Don't be silly!”
Her lips were quivering, but in response to his admonis.h.i.+ng tone she forced them to smile. ”I know I am silly,” she said, with an effort.
”I--I'm not nearly good enough for Eustace. And I'm a dreadful little coward, I know. But he does frighten me. When he kisses me--I always want to run away.”
”But you wouldn't like it if he didn't,” said Scott, in the voice of the philosopher.
”Shouldn't I?” said Dinah. ”I wonder. It--wouldn't be him, would it?”
”And what are you going to do when you are married?” said Scott, point blank. ”You'll see much more of him then.”
”Oh, I expect I shall feel different then,” said Dinah. ”Married people are different, aren't they? They are not always going off by themselves and kissing in corners.”
”Not as a rule,” admitted Scott. ”But I've been told that there is usually a good deal of that sort of thing done during the honeymoon.”
”That's different too,” Dinah's voice was slightly dubious notwithstanding. ”But we are not on our honeymoon yet. Scott, couldn't you--just for once--help me to--to find an excuse not to go? It would be--so dear of you.”
She spoke with earnest entreaty, her eyes frankly raised to his.
Scott looked into them with steady searching before he finally responded.
”I will speak to him if you like. I don't know that I shall be successful. But--if you wish it--I will try.”
”Oh, thank you,” she said. ”Thank you.” And then quickly, ”You're sure you don't mind? Sure you're not afraid?”
”Oh, quite sure of that,” said Scott.