Isabel tried to speak in answer, but caught her breath in a sudden sob.
He waited a second. Then, "Isabel!" he said gently.
Sharply she controlled herself. "Yes. Yes. Let us go!" she said. "I
must--congratulate Eustace."
They went; and old Biddy was left alone.
She looked after them with a piteous expression on her wrinkled face;
then suddenly, with a wistful gesture, she clasped her old worn hands.
"I pray the Almighty," she said, with great earnestness, "to open the
dear young lady's eyes, before it is too late. And if He wants anyone to
help Him--sure it's meself that'll be only too pleased."
It was the most impressive prayer that Biddy had ever uttered.
PART II
CHAPTER I
CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
The early dusk of February was falling, together with a fine, drenching
rain. The trees that over-hung the muddy lane were beating their stark
branches together as though in despair over the general hopelessness of
the outlook. The west wind that raced across the brown fields had the
sharpness of snow in its train.
"We shall catch it before we've done," said Bathurst to his hunter.
Rupert the hunter, a dapple grey with powerful hindquarters, cocked a
knowing ear in a fashion that Dinah always described as "his smile."
It had not been a good day for either of them. The meet had been at a
considerable distance, there had been no run worth mentioning; and now
that it was over they were returning, thoroughly tired, from the kennels.
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