She laughed, half-exultantly, half-dubiously, peeping at him through her lowered lashes.  “I wonder if you’ll still say that when—­when you’ve seen—­my mother,” she murmured.

He kissed her again, kissed anew the dimples that showed and vanished so alluringly.  “You will see presently, my Daphne,” he said.  “But I’m going to have you, you know.  That’s quite understood, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” whispered Dinah, with docility.

“No more running away,” he insisted.  “That’s past and done with.”

She gave him a fleeting smile.  “I couldn’t if—­if I wanted to.”

“I’m glad you realize that,” he said.

She clung to him suddenly with a little movement that was almost convulsive.  “Oh, are you sure—­quite sure—­that you wouldn’t rather marry Rose de Vigne?”

He uttered his careless laugh.  “My dear child, there are plenty of Roses in the world.  There is only one—­Daphne—­Daphne, the fleet of foot—­Daphne, the enchantress!”

She clung to him a little faster.  “And there is only one Apollo,” she murmured.  “Apollo the magnificent!”

“We seem to be quite a unique couple,” laughed Eustace, with his lips upon her hair.

CHAPTER XXX

THE SECOND SUMMONS

When they went down the hill again to the hotel, Dinah felt as if she were treading on air.  The whole world had magically changed for her.  Fears still lurked in the background, such fears as she did not dare to turn and contemplate; but she herself had stepped into such a blaze of sunshine 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 mere shadow.  Sir Eustace’s absolute confidence on the subject of his desirability as a husband had accomplished this.  There would be paens of rejoicing, he told her, and she had actually begun to think that he spoke the truth.  She was quite convinced that her mother would be pleased.  It was Cinderella and the prince indeed.  Who could be otherwise?

Her escapade of the night before had also shrunk to a matter of small importance.  Eustace in his grand, easy way had justified her, and she was no longer tormented by the thought of the mute reproach she would encounter in Scott’s eyes.  She was triumphantly vindicated, and no one would dream of reproaching her now.  Isabel too—­surely Isabel would be glad, would welcome her as a sister, though the realization of this nearness of relationship made her blush in sheer horror at her presumption.

She to be Lady Studley!  She—­little, insignificant, moneyless Dinah!  The thought of Rose’s soft patronage flashed through her brain, and she chuckled aloud.  Poor dear Rose, waiting for him at the Court, expecting every 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 in a position to patronize her!  Again, quite involuntarily, she chuckled.