“If you will help me,” said Dinah.

“Of course I will help you, dear child.  I will always help you with anything so long as it is in my power.”

Very tenderly Isabel reassured her till presently the scared feeling subsided.

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

Isabel remained with them, but she talked very little in her brother’s presence; and when after a time Dinah turned to her she was startled by the 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 a little tired, but that was nothing new.

“But you generally rest before dinner!” said Dinah, full of self-reproach, “Eustace, ought she not to rest?”

Eustace glanced at his sister half-reluctantly, and a shade of concern crossed his face also.  “Are you feeling faint?” he asked her.  “Do you want anything?”

“No, no!  Of course not!” She averted her face sharply from his look.  “Go on 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 of perpetual searching that Dinah had grown to know in the earliest days of their acquaintance.  She was watching, she was waiting,—­for what?  She longed to draw near and comfort her, but the presence of Eustace made that impossible.  She did not know how to dismiss him.

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

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

“Show me your den now!” she said.  “I can see the rest of the house to-morrow.”

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

CHAPTER VI

THE WRONG ROAD

When Dinah descended to breakfast the next morning, she encountered Scott in the hall.  He had evidently just come in from an early ride, and he was looking younger and more animated than his wont.

“Ah, there you are!” he said, coming to meet her.  “I’ve got some shocking news for you this morning.  Eustace has had to go to town to see his solicitor.  An urgent telephone message came through this morning.  He has just gone up by the early train in the hope of getting back in good time.  He charged me with all sorts of messages for you, and I have promised to take care of you in his absence, if you will allow me.”

“Oh, that will be great fun!” exclaimed Dinah ingenuously, “I hope you are not very busy.  I’d like you to show me everything.”