Greatheart

by Ethel M. Dell

  CHAPTER V

  THE WATCHER

  She sprang to meet him with a cry of delight, both hands extended.

  "Oh, it is good to see you again! It is good! It is good!" she panted."Why didn't you come to Perrythorpe? I did want you there!"

  He grasped her hands very tightly. His pale eyes smiled their welcome,but--it came to her afterwards--he scarcely said a word in greeting. In asecond or two he set her free.

  "Come and see Isabel!" he said.

  She went with him eagerly, forgetful of Sir Eustace striding in her wake.As Scott opened the door of Isabel's room, she pressed forward, and thenext moment she was kneeling by Isabel's side, gathered close, close toher breast in a silence that was deeper than any speech.

  Dinah's arms clung fast about the elder woman's neck. She was consciousof a curious impulse to tears, but she conquered it, forcing herselfsomewhat brokenly to laugh.

  "Isn't it lovely to be together again?" she whispered. "You can't thinkwhat it means to me. I lay in bed last night and counted the hours andthen the minutes. I was so dreadfully afraid something might happen toprevent my coming. And, oh, Isabel, I had no idea your home was sobeautiful."

  Isabel's hold slackened. "Sit on the sofa beside me, my darling!" shesaid. "I am so glad you like Willowmount. Was Eustace in time for yourtrain?"

  Dinah laughed again with more assurance. "Oh no! I got there first. Hecame swooping down as if he had dropped from the clouds. We had a veryquick run back, and I'm blown all to pieces." She put up impetuous handsto 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 overto 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 wasglad to see her. He rang for tea and sat down somewhere near in hisusual unobtrusive fashion. Eustace occupied the place of honour in aneasy-chair drawn close to the end of the sofa on which Dinah sat. Hewas watching her, she knew but she could not meet his look as she metScott's. His very nearness made her feel again the scorching of theflame.

  She slipped her hand into Isabel's as though seeking refuge and as shedid so she heard Eustace address his brother, his tone brief andperemptory,--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 sureas a gun!"

  Scott said nothing further, but his silence was not without a certainmastery that sent an odd little thrill of triumph through Dinah.

  Eustace frowned heavily and turned from him.

  The entrance of Biddy with the tea made a diversion, for her greeting ofDinah was full of warmth.

  "But sure, ye're not looking like I'd like to see ye, Miss Dinah," washer verdict. "It's meself that'll have to feed ye up."

  "But I'm always thin!" protested Dinah. "It's just the way I'm made."

  Biddy pursed her lips and shook her head. "It's not the sign of acontented mind," she commented.

  "I never was contented before I went to Switzerland," said Dinah; sheturned to Isabel. "Wasn't it all lovely? It's just like a dream to menow--all glitter and romance. I'd give anything to have it over again."

  "I'll show you better things than winter in the Alps," said Eustace inhis free, imperial fashion.

  Her bright eyes glanced up to his for a moment. "Do you know I don'tbelieve you could," she said.

  He laughed. "You won't say that six months hence. The Alps will be nomore than an episode to you then."

  "Rather an important episode," remarked Scott.

  Her look came to him, settled upon him like a shy bird at rest. "Very,very important," she said softly. "Do you remember that first day--thatfirst night--how you helped me dress for the ball? Eustace would neverhave thought of dancing with me if it hadn't been for you."

  "I seem to have a good deal to answer for," said Scott, with his rathertired smile.

  "I owe you--everything," said Dinah.

  "Stumpy has many debtors," said Isabel.

  Eustace uttered a brief laugh. "Stumpy scores without running," heobserved. "He always has. Saves trouble, eh, Stumpy?"

  "Quite so," said Scott with precision. "It's easy to be kind when itcosts you nothing."

  "And it pays," said Eustace.

  Dinah's green eyes went back to him with something of a flash. "Scottwould never have thought of that," she said.

  "I am sure he wouldn't," said Eustace dryly.

  Her look darted about him like an angry bird seeking some vulnerablepoint whereat to strike. But before she could speak, Scott leaned forwardand intervened.

  "My thoughts are my own private property, if no one objects," he saidwhimsically. "Judge me--if you must--by my actions! But I should prefernot to be judged at all. Have you told Dinah about the invitation to thede Vignes's, Eustace?"

  "No! They haven't asked you for the wedding surely!" Dinah's thoughtswere instantly diverted. "Have they really? I never thought they would.Oh, that will be fun! I expect Rose is trying to pretend she isn't--" Shebroke off, colouring vividly. "What a pig I am!" she said apologeticallyto Scott. "Please forget I said that!"

  "But you didn't say it," said Scott.

  "A near thing!" commented Eustace. "I had no idea Miss de Vigne was sosmitten. Stumpy, you'll be best man. You'll have to console her."

  "I believe the best man has to console everybody," said Scott.

  "You are peculiarly well fitted for the task," said his brother, settingdown his cup and pulling out a cigarette-case. "Be quick and quench yourthirst, Dinah. I want to trot you round the place before dark."

  Dinah looked at Isabel. "You'll come too?"

  Isabel shook her head. "No, dear, I can't walk much. Besides, Eustacewill want you to himself."

  But a queer little spirit of perversity had entered into Dinah. She shookher head also. "We will go round in the morning," she said, with aresolute look at her _fiance_. "I am going to stay with Isabel to-night.You have had quite as much of me as is good for you; now haven't you?"

  There was an instant of silence that felt ominous before somewhat curtlySir Eustace yielded the point. "I won't grudge you to Isabel if she wantsyou. You can both of you come up to the picture-gallery when you havedone. There's a fine view of the river from there."

  He got up with the words and Scott rose also. They went away together,and Dinah at once nestled to Isabel's side.

  "Now we can be cosy!" she said.

  Isabel put an arm about her. "You mustn't make me monopolize you,sweetheart," she said. "I think Eustace was a little disappointed."

  "I'll be ever so nice to him presently to make up," said Dinah. "But I dowant you now, Isabel!"

  "What is it, dearest?"

  Dinah's cheek rubbed softly against her shoulder. "Isabel--darling, Inever thought that you and Scott were going to leave this place becauseEustace was marrying me."

  Isabel's arm pressed her closer. "We are not going far away, darling. Itwill be better for you to be alone."

  "I don't think so," said Dinah. "We shall be alone quite long enough onour honeymoon." She trembled a little in Isabel's hold. "I do wish youwere coming too," she whispered.

  "My dear, Eustace will take care of you," Isabel said.

  "Oh yes, I know. But he's so big. He wants such a lot," murmured Dinah indistress. "I don't know quite how to manage him. He's never satisfied.If--if only you were coming with us, he'd have something else to thinkabout."

  "Oh no, he wouldn't, dear. When you are present, he thinks of no oneelse. You see," Isabel spoke with something of an effort, "he's in lovewith you."

  "Yes--yes, of course. I'm very silly." Dinah dabbed her eyes and began tosmile. "But he makes me feel all the while as if--as if he wants to eatme. I know it's all my silliness; but I wish you weren't going to the
Dower House all the same. Shall you be quite comfortable there?"

  "It is being done up, dear. You must come round with us and see it. Weshall move in directly the wedding is over, and then this place is to bedone up too, made ready for you. I believe you are to choose wall-papersand hangings while you are here. You will enjoy that."

  "If you will help me," said Dinah.

  "Of course I will help you, dear child. I will always help you withanything so long as it is in my power."

  Very tenderly Isabel reassured her till presently the scared feelingsubsided.

  They went up later to the picture-gallery and joined Eustace whom theyfound smoking there. His mood also had changed by that time, and heintroduced his ancestors to Dinah with complete good humour.

  Isabel remained with them, but she talked very little in her brother'spresence; and when after a time Dinah turned to her she was startled bythe deadly weariness of her face.

  "Oh, I am tiring you!" she exclaimed, with swift compunction.

  But Isabel assured her with a smile that this was not so. She was alittle tired, but that was nothing new.

  "But you generally rest before dinner!" said Dinah, full ofself-reproach, "Eustace, ought she not to rest?"

  Eustace glanced at his sister half-reluctantly, and a shade of concerncrossed his face also. "Are you feeling faint?" he asked her. "Do youwant anything?"

  "No, no! Of course not!" She averted her face sharply from his look. "Goon talking to Dinah! I am all right."

  She moved to a deep window-embrasure, and sat down on the cushioned seat.The spring dusk was falling. She gazed forth into it with that look ofperpetual searching that Dinah had grown to know in the earliest days oftheir acquaintance. She was watching, she was waiting,--for what? Shelonged to draw near and comfort her, but the presence of Eustace madethat impossible. She did not know how to dismiss him.

  And then to her relief the door opened, and Scott came quietly in uponthem. He seemed to take in the situation at a glance, for after a fewwords with them he passed on to Isabel, sitting aloof and silent in thetwilight.

  She greeted him with a smile, and Dinah's anxiety lifted somewhat. Sheturned to Eustace.

  "Show me your den now!" she said. "I can see the rest of the houseto-morrow."

  And with a feeling that she was doing Isabel a service she went away withhim, alone.