His
gaze sought and found his sister; and a frown gathered on his clear-cut,
handsome face.
"Not in bed yet?" he said, and closing the door moved forward, passing
Biddy by.
Isabel stood and faced him, but she drew back a step as he reached her,
and a hunted look crept into her wide eyes.
"You are late," she said. "I thought you had forgotten to say good
night."
He was still in evening dress. It was evident that he had only just come
upstairs. "No, I didn't forget," he said. "And it seems I am not too late
for you. I shouldn't have disturbed you if you had been asleep."
She smiled a quivering, piteous smile. "You knew I should not be asleep,"
she said.
He glanced towards the bed which Biddy was setting in order with tender
solicitude. "I expected to find you in bed nevertheless," he said. "What
made you get up again?"
She shook her head in silence, standing before him like a child that
expects a merited rebuke.
He put a hand on her shoulder that was authoritative rather than kind.
"Lie down again!" he said. "It is time you settled for the night."
She threw him a quick, half-furtive look. "No--no!" she said hurriedly.
"I can't sleep. I don't want to sleep. I think I will get a book and
read."
His hand pressed upon her. "Isabel!" he said quietly. "When I say a thing
I mean it."
She made a quivering gesture of appeal. "I can't go to bed, Eustace.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164