Besides, people do not remain furious, you know. They cool down,
and then they are generally ashamed of themselves. Don't let us talk
about your mother!"
"The de Vignes then," said Dinah, turning from the subject with relief.
"Tell me what happened! Was the Colonel very angry?"
Scott's mouth twitched slightly. "Not in the least," he said.
"Not really!" Dinah looked incredulous for a moment; then: "Perhaps he
thinks there is a fresh chance for Rose," she said.
"Perhaps he does," agreed Scott dryly. "In any case, he is more disposed
to smile than frown, and as Eustace wasn't there to see it, it didn't
greatly matter."
"Oh, poor Eustace!" she whispered. "It--was dreadful to hurt him so."
"I think he will get over it," Scott said.
"He was much--kinder--than--than I deserved," she murmured.
Scott's faint smile reappeared. "Perhaps he found it difficult to be
anything else," he said.
She shook her head. "I wonder--how I came to make--such a dreadful
mistake."
"It wasn't your fault," said Scott.
She looked at him quickly. "What makes you say that?"
He met her look gravely. "Because I know just how it happened," he said.
"You were neither of you in earnest in the first place. I am afraid I had
a hand in making Eustace propose to you. I was afraid--and so was
Isabel--you would be hurt by his trifling."
"And you interfered?" breathed Dinah.
Pages:
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498