“But you didn’t say it,” said Scott.

“A near thing!” commented Eustace.  “I had no idea Miss de Vigne was so smitten.  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, setting down his cup and pulling out a cigarette-case.  “Be quick and quench your thirst, 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, Eustace will want you to himself.”

But a queer little spirit of perversity had entered into Dinah.  She shook her head also.  “We will go round in the morning,” she said, with a resolute 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 curtly Sir Eustace yielded the point.  “I won’t grudge you to Isabel if she wants you.  You can both of you come up to the picture-gallery when you have done.  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 do want you now, Isabel!”

“What is it, dearest?”

Dinah’s cheek rubbed softly against her shoulder.  “Isabel—­darling, I never thought that you and Scott were going to leave this place because Eustace was marrying me.”

Isabel’s arm pressed her closer.  “We are not going far away, darling.  It will be better for you to be alone.”

“I don’t think so,” said Dinah.  “We shall be alone quite long enough on our honeymoon.”  She trembled a little in Isabel’s hold.  “I do wish you were 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 in distress.  “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 think about.”

“Oh no, he wouldn’t, dear.  When you are present, he thinks of no one else.  You see,” Isabel spoke with something of an effort, “he’s in love with you.”

“Yes—­yes, of course.  I’m very silly.”  Dinah dabbed her eyes and began to smile.  “But he makes me feel all the while as if—­as if he wants to eat me.  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.  We shall move in directly the wedding is over, and then this place is to be done up too, made ready for you.  I believe you are to choose wall-papers and hangings while you are here.  You will enjoy that.”