"
"Who are the de Vignes?" asked Isabel suddenly.
Dinah turned to her. "We are staying here with them, Billy and I. My
father persuaded the Colonel to have us. He knew how dreadfully we wanted
to go. The Colonel is rather good-natured over some things, and he and
Dad are friends. But I don't think Lady Grace wanted us much. You see,
she and Rose are so very smart."
"I see," said Scott.
"Rose has been presented at Court," pursued Dinah. "They always go up for
the season. They have a house in town. We always say that Rose is waiting
to marry a marquis; but he hasn't turned up yet. You see, she really is
much too beautiful to marry an ordinary person, isn't she?"
"Oh, much," said Scott.
Dinah heaved another little sigh; then suddenly she laughed. "But your
brother has promised to help me with my skating to-morrow anyhow," she
said. "So she won't have him all the time."
"Perhaps the marquis will come along to-morrow," suggested Scott.
"I wish he would," said Dinah, with fervour.
CHAPTER VII
THE BROKEN SPELL
Biddy was in the act of handing round the tea when there came the sound
of a step outside, and an impatient hand thrust open the door.
"Hullo, Stumpy!" said a voice. "Are you here? What have you done with
Miss Bathurst? She's engaged to me for the next dance." Eustace entered
with the words, but stopped short on the threshold.
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