A little tremor went through her as furtively she watched
him. His silence, unlike the silences of Scott, was disquieting. She
could never feel wholly at ease in his presence.
He turned his head towards her after a few seconds of absolute stillness,
and in a moment her eyes sank. She sat in palpitating silence, as one
caught in some disgraceful act.
But still he did not speak, and the painful colour flooded her face under
his mute scrutiny till in sheer distress she found herself forced to take
the initiative.
"Is--Isabel expecting me?" she faltered. "Ought I to go?"
"No," he said quietly. "She is dozing. Old Biddy is with her."
It seemed as if the intolerable silence were about to fall again. She
cast about desperately for a means of escape. "Biddy was up and down
during the night. I think I will relieve her for a little while and let
her rest."
She would have risen with the words, but unexpectedly he reached forth a
detaining hand. "Do you mind waiting a minute?" he said. "I will not
say--or do--anything to frighten you."
He spoke with a faint smile that somehow hurt her almost unbearably. She
remained as she was, leaning forward in her chair. "I--am not afraid,"
she murmured almost inaudibly.
His hand seemed to plead for hers, and in a moment she laid her own
within it. "That's right," he said. "Dinah, will you try and treat me as
if I were a friend--just for a few minutes?"
The tone of his voice--like his smile--pierced her with a poignancy that
sent the quick tears to her eyes.
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