Part 84 (1/2)

”Oh no! I'm not going to stay.” Quickly she made answer. ”I am never going back. I couldn't after--after--” She broke off in quivering distress.

”I think your mother will be sorry presently,” he said. ”People with violent tempers generally repent very deeply afterwards.”

Dinah turned upon him suddenly and hotly. ”She will never repent!” she declared. ”She hates me. She has always hated me. And I hate her--hate her--hate her!”

The concentrated pa.s.sion of her made her vibrate from head to foot. Her eyes glittered like emeralds. She was possessed by such a fury of hatred as made her scarcely recognizable.

Scott looked at her steadily for a moment or two. Then: ”But it does you more harm than good to say so,” he said. ”And it doesn't answer my question, does it? Dinah, if you don't feel that you can do this thing for your own sake, won't you do it for Isabel's? She is needing you badly just now.”

The vindictive look went out of Dinah's face. Her eyes softened, and he saw the hopeless tears well up again. ”But I couldn't help her any more,”

she said.

”The very fact of having you to care for would help her,” Scott said.

Dinah shook her head. She was sitting on the ground with her hands clasped round her knees. As the tears splashed down again, she turned her face away.

”It wouldn't help her, it wouldn't help anybody, to have me as I am now,”

she said. ”I can't tell you--I can't explain. But--I am not fit to a.s.sociate with anyone good.”

Scott leaned towards her. ”Dinah, my dear, you are torturing yourself,”

he said. ”It's natural, I know. You have had no sleep, and you have cried yourself ill. But I am not going to give in to you. I am not going to take No for an answer. You have no plans for yourself, and I doubt if in your present state you are capable of forming any. Isabel wants you, and it would be cruel to disappoint her. So you and I will join her at Great Mallowes this afternoon. I will deal with your people in the matter, but I do not antic.i.p.ate any great difficulty in that direction. Now that is settled, and you need not weary yourself with any further discussion. I am responsible, and I will bear my responsibility.”

His tone was kind but it held unmistakable finality.

Dinah uttered a heavy sigh, and said no more. She lacked the strength for prolonged opposition.

He persuaded her to drink some more of the milk, and made a cus.h.i.+on of his coat for her against the tree.

”Perhaps you will get a little sleep,” he said, as she suffered herself to relax somewhat. ”Will it disturb you if I smoke?”

”No,” she said.

He took out his case. ”Shut your eyes!” he said practically.

But Dinah's eyes remained open, watching him. He began to smoke as if unaware of her scrutiny.

After several moments she spoke. ”Scott!”

He turned to her. ”Yes? What is it?”

The piteous, shamed colour rose up under his eyes. Again she turned her face away. ”That--that sapphire pendant!” she murmured. ”I brought it with me. Of course--I know--the presents will have to be returned. I didn't mean to--to run away with it. But--but--I loved it so. I couldn't have borne my mother to touch it. Shall I--shall I give it you now?”

”No, dear,” he answered firmly. ”Neither now nor at any time. I gave it to you as a token of friends.h.i.+p, and I would like you to keep it always for that reason.”

”Always?” questioned Dinah. ”Even if--if I never marry at all?”

”Certainly,” he said.

”Because I never shall marry now,” she said, speaking with difficulty.

”I--have quite given up that idea.”