She chafed terribly at the thought, and ever the longing to see him again grew within her till she did not know how to hide it from those about her.

In the evening her temperature rose, and the doctor was dissatisfied with her.  She passed a restless night, and was considerably weaker in the morning.

“There is something on her mind,” the doctor said to Isabel.  “See if you can find out what it is!”

But it was Scott who succeeded with the utmost gentleness in discovering the trouble.  He came in late in the morning and sat down beside her for a few minutes.

“I have been writing letters for my brother,” he said in his quiet way, “or I should have called for news of you sooner.  Isabel tells me you have had a bad night.”

Dinah’s face was flushed and her eyes very bright.  “I heard the dance-music in the distance,” she said nervously.  “It—­it made me want to go and dance.”

“I am sorry it disturbed you,” he said gently.  “It was only that then?  You weren’t really troubled about anything?”

She hesitated, then, meeting the kindness of his look, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.  She turned her head away in silence.

He leaned towards her.  “Is there anything you want?” he said.  “Tell me what it is!  I will get it for you if it is humanly possible.”

“I know—­I know!” faltered Dinah, and hid her face in the pillow.

He waited a moment or two, then laid a very gentle hand upon her dark head.  “Don’t cry, little one!” he said softly.  “Tell me what it is!”

“I can’t,” murmured Dinah.

“You wanted to go and dance,” said Scott sympathetically.  “Was it just that?”

“Not—­just—­that!” she whispered forlornly.

“I thought not.  You were wanting something more than that.  What was it?”

She tried not to tell him.  She would have given almost all she had to keep silence on the subject; but somehow she had to speak.  Under the pressure of that kind hand, she could not maintain her silence any longer.

“I was thinking of—­of your brother,” she told him with tears.  “I was wondering if—­if he were dancing, and—­and I not there!”

It was out at last, and she hid her face in overwhelming shame because she had given him a glimpse of her secret heart which none had ever seen before.  She wondered with anguish what he thought of her, if she had forfeited his good opinion of her for ever, if indeed he would ever speak to her with kindness again.

And then very quietly he did speak, and in a moment all her anxiety was gone.  “He may have been dancing,” he said.  “But I believe he has been very bored ever since the weather broke.  I wonder if he might come and see you.  Would it be too much for you?  Should you mind?”

“Mind!” Dinah’s tears were gone in a flash.  She turned shining eyes upon him.  “But would he come?” she said, with sudden misgiving.  “Wouldn’t that bore him too?”