"Oh no! I got there first. He
came swooping down as if he had dropped from the clouds. We had a very
quick run back, and I'm blown all to pieces." She put up impetuous hands
to thrust back the disordered clusters of dark hair.
"Take off your hat!" said Scott.
She obeyed, with shining eyes upon him. "Now, why didn't you come over
to Perrythorpe? You haven't told me yet."
"I was busy," he answered. "I had to get home."
His eyes were shining also. She did not need to be told that he was
glad to see her. He rang for tea and sat down somewhere near in his
usual unobtrusive fashion. Eustace occupied the place of honour in an
easy-chair drawn close to the end of the sofa on which Dinah sat. He
was watching her, she knew but she could not meet his look as she met
Scott's. His very nearness made her feel again the scorching of the
flame.
She slipped her hand into Isabel's as though seeking refuge and as she
did so she heard Eustace address his brother, his tone brief and
peremptory,--the voice of the employer.
"You have finished that correspondence?"
"I shall finish it in time for the post," Scott made answer.
Eustace made a sound expressive of dissatisfaction. "You'll miss it sure
as a gun!"
Scott said nothing further, but his silence was not without a certain
mastery that sent an odd little thrill of triumph through Dinah.
Eustace frowned heavily and turned from him.
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