CHAPTER XXX
THE SECOND SUMMONS
When they went down the hill again to the hotel, Dinah felt as if shewere treading on air. The whole world had magically changed for her.Fears still lurked in the background, such fears as she did not dare toturn and contemplate; but she herself had stepped into such a blaze ofsunshine that she felt literally bathed from head to foot in the glow.
Her dread of returning to the old home-life had dwindled to a mereshadow. Sir Eustace's absolute confidence on the subject of hisdesirability as a husband had accomplished this. There would be paens ofrejoicing, he told her, and she had actually begun to think that he spokethe truth. She was quite convinced that her mother would be pleased. Itwas Cinderella and the prince indeed. Who could be otherwise?
Her escapade of the night before had also shrunk to a matter of smallimportance. Eustace in his grand, easy way had justified her, and she wasno longer tormented by the thought of the mute reproach she wouldencounter in Scott's eyes. She was triumphantly vindicated, and no onewould dream of reproaching her now. Isabel too--surely Isabel would beglad, would welcome her as a sister, though the realization of thisnearness of relationship made her blush in sheer horror at herpresumption.
She to be Lady Studley! She--little, insignificant, moneyless Dinah! Thethought of Rose's soft patronage flashed through her brain, and shechuckled aloud. Poor dear Rose, waiting for him at the Court, expectingevery day to hear of his promised advent! What a shock for them all! Why,she would rank with the County now! Even Lady Grace would scarcely be ina position to patronize her! Again, quite involuntarily, she chuckled.
"What's the joke?" demanded Sir Eustace.
She blushed very deeply, realizing that she had allowed her thoughts torun away with her.
"There isn't a joke really," she told him. "It wasn't important anyhow. Iwas only thinking how--how surprised the de Vignes would be."
He frowned momentarily; then he laughed. "Proud of your conquest, eh?" heasked.
She blushed still more deeply. "It's easy to laugh now, but I shall neverdare to face them," she murmured.
He took her hand as they walked, linking his fingers in hers with acareless air of possession. "When you are Lady Studley," he said, "Ishall not allow you to knock under to anyone--except your husband."
She gave a faint laugh. "I--shall have to learn to swagger," she said."But I'm afraid I shall never do it as well as you do."
"What? Swagger?" He frowned again. "How dare you accuse me of that?"
"Oh, I didn't! I don't!" Hastily she sought to avert his displeasure."No, no! I only meant that you were born to it. I'm not. I--I'm veryordinary; not nearly good enough for you."
His frown melted again. "You are--Daphne," he said. "Ah! Here is Scott,coming to look for us! Who is going to break the news to him?"
She made a small, ineffectual attempt to release her hand. Then, underher breath, "He--saw you kiss me last night," she whispered. "Don't youthink he may have guessed already?"
A very cynical look came into Eustace's face. "I wonder," he saidbriefly.
They went on side by side down the white, shining track; but Dinah was nolonger treading on air. She could see the slight, insignificant figurethat awaited them close to the hotel-entrance, and her heart felt oddlyweighted within her. It was not the memory of the night before thatoppressed her. That episode had faded almost into nothingness. But theordeal of facing him, of telling him of the wonderful thing that had justhappened to her, seemed suddenly more than she could bear. Somethingwithin her seemed to cry out against it. She had a curious feeling oflooking out at him across great billows of seething uncertainty thatrolled ever higher and higher between them, threatening to separate themfor all time.
Yet when she neared him, the tumult of feeling sank again as thequietness of his presence reached her. Out of the tempest she foundherself drifting into a safe harbour of still waters.
He moved to meet them, and she heard his voice greet her as he raised hiscap. "So you have been for your farewell stroll!"
She did not answer in words, only she freed her hand from Eustace with aresolute little tug and gave it to him.
Eustace spoke, a species of half-veiled insolence in his tone. "Like thepsalmist she went forth weeping and has returned bearing her sheaf withher--in the form of a fairly substantial _fiance_."
Dinah ventured to cast a lightning-glance at Scott to see how he took theinformation and was conscious of an instant's shock. He looked so grey,so ill, like a man who had received a deadly wound.
But the impression passed in a flash as she felt his hand close uponhers.
"My dear," he said simply, "I'm awfully pleased."
The warm grasp did her good. It brought her swiftly back to a normalstate of mind. She drew a hard breath and met his eyes, reassuringherself in a moment with the conviction that after all he looked quite asusual. Somehow her imagination had tricked her. His kindly smile seemedto make everything right.
"Oh, it is kind of you not to mind," she said impulsively.
Whereat Sir Eustace laughed. "He is rather magnanimous, isn't he? Well,come along and tell Isabel!"
Scott's eyes came swiftly to him. He released Dinah, and offered his handto his brother. "Let me congratulate you, old chap!" he said, his voicerather low. "I hope you will both have--all happiness."
"Thanks!" said Eustace. He took the hand, looking at the younger man withkeen, hawk-eyes. "We mean to make a bid for it anyway. Dinah is lucky inone thing at least. She will have an ideal brother-in-law."
The words were carelessly spoken, but they were not without meaning.Scott flushed slightly; even while for an instant he smiled. "I shall domy best in that capacity," he said. "But before you go in, I want you towait a moment. Isabel has had a slight fainting attack. We mustn't takeher by surprise."
"A fainting attack!" Sharply Eustace echoed the words. "How did ithappen?" he demanded.
Scott raised his shoulders. "We were talking together. I can't tell youexactly what caused it. It came rather suddenly. Biddy and I brought herround almost immediately, and she declares that she will make thejourney. She did not wish me to tell you of it, but I thought it better."
"Of coarse." Sir Eustace's voice was short and stern; his face wore aheavy frown. "But something must have caused it. What were you talkingabout?"
Scott hesitated for a second. "I can't tell you that, old fellow," hesaid then.
Eustace uttered a brief laugh. "Too personal, eh? Well, how did ithappen? Did she suddenly lose consciousness?"
"She suddenly gasped, and said her heart had stopped. She fell across thetable. I called to Biddy, and we lifted her and gave her brandy. Thatbrought her to very quickly. I left her lying down in her room. But shesays she feels much better, and she is very set upon leaving thearrangements for the journey unaltered."
Scott spoke rather wearily. Dinah's heart went out to him in swiftsympathy which she did not know how to express.
"May I--could I--go to her?" she suggested, after a moment timidly.
Scott turned to her instantly. "Please do! I know she would like to seeyou. We ought to be starting in another quarter of an hour. The sleighwill be here directly."
"May I do as I like about--about telling her?" Dinah asked, pausing.
Scott's eyes shone with a very kindly gleam. "Of course, I know you willnot startle her. You always do her good."
The words followed her as she turned away. How good he was to her! Howfull of understanding and human sympathy! Her heart throbbed with awarmth that filled her with an odd desire to weep. She wished thatEustace did not treat him quite so arrogantly.
And then, looking back, she reproached herself for the thought; forEustace had linked a hand in his arm, and she saw that they were walkingtogether in complete accord.
"But I will never--no, never--call him Stumpy!" she said to herself, asshe passed into the hotel.
She went up the stairs rapidly, and hastened to Isabel's room. That lookshe had caught in Scott'
s face--that stricken look--had doubtless beenbrought there by his sudden anxiety for his sister. That would fullyaccount for it, she was sure.
On the threshold of Isabel's room an overwhelming nervousness assailedher. How was she going to tell her of the wonderful event that had takenplace in the last half-hour? On the other hand, how could she possiblysuppress so tremendous a matter? And again, the disquieting questionarose; could she be ill--really ill? Scott had looked so troubled--sounutterably sad.
With an effort she summoned her courage, and softly knocked.
Instantly a low voice answered her, bidding her enter. She opened thedoor and went in, feeling as though she were treading sacred ground.
But Isabel's voice spoke again instantly, greeting her; andin a moment all her doubts, all her forebodings, were gone.
"Come in, little sweetheart!" Isabel said.
And she advanced with quickened steps to find Isabel lying propped on thesofa, looking at her, smiling up at her, with such a glory on her wastedface as made it "as it had been the face of an angel."
In an instant Dinah was on her knees beside her, with loving armsclasping her close. "Oh, darling, I've only just heard. Are you better?Are you better?" she said yearningly.
Isabel held her, and fondly kissed the upturned lips. "Why, I believeScott has been frightening you," she said. "Silly fellow! Yes, dear. I amwell--quite well."
"You are sure?" Dinah insisted. "You are really not ill?"
Isabel's smile had in it--had she but known it--a gleam of the Divine."My dearest, all is well with me," she said. "I lay down for a little toplease Scott. But I am going to get up now. Where have you been since_dejeuner_? I missed you."
Dinah clung closer, hiding her face.
Instantly Isabel's arms tightened. The passionate tenderness of themthrilled her through and through. "Why, child, what has happened?" shewhispered. "Tell me! Tell me!"
But Dinah only hid her face a little deeper. "I don't know how," shemurmured.
There fell a silence. Then, under her breath, Isabel spoke. "My darling,whisper--just whisper! Who--is it?"
And very, very faintly, at last Dinah made answer. "It--it is--SirEustace."
There fell another silence, longer, deeper, than the first. Then Isabeluttered a short, hard sigh, and, stooping, kissed the bowed, curly head."God bless and keep you always, dearest!" she said.
Something in the words--or was it the tone?--pierced Dinah. She turnedher face slightly upwards. "I--I was afraid you wouldn't be pleased," shefaltered. "Do--do forgive me--if you can!"
"Forgive you!" All the wealth of Isabel's love was in the words. "Why,darling, I have been wanting you for my own little sister ever since Ifirst saw you."
"Oh, have you?" Eagerly Dinah lifted her head. Her eyes were shining, hercheeks very flushed. "Then you are pleased?" she said earnestly. "Youreally are pleased?"
Isabel smiled at her very sadly, very fondly. "My darling, if you arehappy, I am more than pleased," she said.
Yet Dinah was puzzled, not wholly satisfied. She received Isabel's kisswith a certain wistfulness. "I feel--somehow--as if I've done wrong," shesaid. "Yet--yet--Scott--" she halted over the name, uttering itshyly--"said he was--awfully pleased."
"Ah! You have told Scott!" There was a sharp, almost a wrung, sound inIsabel's voice; but the next moment she controlled it, and spoke withsteady resolution. "Then, my dear, you needn't have any misgivings. Ifyou love Eustace and he loves you, it is the best thing possible for youboth." She held Dinah to her again and kissed her; then very tenderlyreleased her. "You must run and get ready, dear child. It is gettinglate."
Dinah went obediently, still with that bewildered feeling of havingsomehow taken a wrong turning. She was convinced in her own mind that thenews had not been welcome to Isabel, disguise it how she would. Andsuddenly through her mind there ran the memory of those words she haduttered a few weeks before. "Never prefer the tinsel to the true gold!"She had not fully understood their meaning then. Now very vividly itflashed upon her. Isabel had compared her two brothers in that briefsentence. Isabel's estimate of the one was as low as that of the otherwas high. Isabel did not love Eustace--the handsome, debonair brother whohad once been all the world to her.
A little, sick feeling of doubt went through Dinah! Had she--by any evilchance--had she made a mistake?
And then the man's overwhelming personality swung suddenly through herconsciousness, filling all her being, possessing her, dominating her. Sheflung the doubt from her, as one flings away a poisonous insect. He washer own--her very own; her lover, the first, the best,--Apollo theMagnificent!
In Isabel's room old Biddy Maloney stood, gazing down at her mistresswith eyes of burning devotion.
"And is it yourself that's feeling better now?" she questioned fondly.
Isabel raised herself, smiling her sad smile. "Oh, Biddy," she said,"for myself I feel that all is well--all will be well. The dawn drawsnearer--every hour."
Biddy shook her head with pursed lips. "Ye shouldn't talk so, mavourneen.It's the Almighty who has the ruling. Ye wouldn't wish to go before yourtime?"
"Before my time! Oh, Biddy! When I have lingered in the prison-house solong!" Slowly Isabel rose to her feet. She looked at Biddy almostwhimsically. "I think He will take that into the reckoning," she said."Do you know, Biddy, this is the second summons that has come to me? AndI think--I think," her face was glorified again as the face of one whosees a vision--"I think the third will be the last."
Biddy's black eyes screwed up suddenly. She turned her face away.
"Will we be getting ready to go now, Miss Isabel?" she asked after amoment, in a voice that shook.
The glory died out of Isabel's face, though the reflection of it stilllingered in her eyes. "I am very selfish, Biddy," she said. "Can youguess what Miss Dinah has just told me?"
"Arrah thin, I can," said Biddy, with a touch of aggressiveness. "I'veseen it coming for a long time past. And ye didn't ought to allow it atall, Miss Isabel. It's a mistake, that's what it is. It's just a badmistake."
"Not if he loves her, Biddy." Isabel spoke gently, but there was a hintof reproof in her voice.
Biddy, however, remained quite unabashed. "He love her!" she snorted. "Asif he ever loved anybody besides himself! Talk about the lion and thelamb, Miss Isabel! It's a cruel shame to let her go to such as him. Andwhat'll poor Master Scott do at all? And he worshipping the little fairyfeet of her!"
"Hush, Biddy, hush!" Isabel spoke with decision. "I hope--I trust--thathe isn't very grievously disappointed. But if he is, it is the one thingthat neither you nor I must ever seem to suspect."
"Ah!" grumbled Biddy mutinously. "And isn't that just like Sir Eustace,with all the world to pick from, to choose the one thing--the one littlewild rose--as Master Scott had set his heart on? He's done it from hiscradle. Always the one thing someone else wanted he must grab forhimself. But is it too late, Miss Isabel darlint?" Sudden hope shone inthe old woman's eyes. "Is it really too late? Couldn't ye drop a hint tothe dear lamb? Sure and she's fond of Master Scott! Maybe she'd turn tohim after all if she knew."
Isabel shook her head almost sternly. "Biddy, no! This is no affair ofours. If Master Scott suspected for a moment what you have just said tome, he would never forgive you."
"May I come in?" said Scott's voice at the door. "My dear, you arelooking better. Are you well enough to start?"
"Yes, of course." Isabel moved towards him, her hands extended in muteaffection.
He took and held them. "Dinah has told you? I am sure you are glad.Eustace is waiting downstairs. Come and tell him how glad you are!"
His eyes, very straight and steadfast, met hers.
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. "Imust--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 thedear young lady's eyes, before it is too late. And if He wants anyone tohelp Him--sure it's meself that'll be only too pleased."
It was the most impressive prayer that Biddy had ever uttered.
PART II
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