"The
de Vignes are not staying longer. The Colonel is a J.P., and much too
important to stay away for long. And they are going to have a large
house-party. There isn't much more than a week left now." She sighed
again.
"And then you will have no more fun at all?" asked Isabel.
"Not a scrap--nothing but work." Dinah's voice quivered a little. "I
don't suppose it has been very good for me coming out here," she said.
"I--I believe I'm much too fond of gaiety really."
Isabel's hand touched her cheek. "Poor little girl!" she said. "But you
wouldn't like to leave your mother to do all the drudgery alone."
"Oh yes, I should," said Dinah, with a touch of recklessness. "I'd never
go back if I could help it. I love Dad of course; but--" She paused.
"You don't love your mother?" supplemented Isabel.
Dinah leaned her face suddenly against the caressing hand. "Not much, I'm
afraid," she whispered.
"Poor little girl!" Isabel murmured again compassionately.
CHAPTER XIV
THE PURPLE EMPRESS
Colonel De Vigne once more wore his most magisterial air when after
breakfast on the following morning he drew Dinah aside.
She looked at him with swift apprehension, even with a tinge of guilt.
His lecture of the previous morning was still fresh in her mind. Could he
have seen her on the ice with Sir Eustace on the previous night, she
asked herself? Surely, surely not!
Apparently he had, however; for his first words were admonitory.
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