Just at the last she tried to murmur a word of thanks to him for intervening on her behalf to induce Eustace to abandon the picnic, but he gently checked her.

“Oh, please don’t thank me!” he said.  “I am not a very good meddler, I assure you.  I hope you are going to have a good day.  Take care of Isabel!”

Dinah would have lingered to tell him of the night’s happening, but Sir Eustace called her and with a smile of farewell she hastened away.

She enjoyed that day with a zest that banished all misgivings.  Sir Eustace insisted upon the purchase of the ring at the outset, and then she and Isabel went their way alone, and shopped in a fashion that raised Dinah’s spirits to giddy heights.  She had never seen or imagined such exquisite things as Isabel ordered on her behalf.  The hours slipped away in one long dream of delight.  Sir Eustace had desired them to join him at luncheon, but Isabel had gravely refused.  There would not be time, she said.  They would meet for tea.  And somewhat to Dinah’s surprise he had yielded the point.

They met for tea in a Bond Street restaurant and here Sir Eustace took away his fiancee’s breath by presenting her with a pearl necklace to wear at her wedding.

She was almost too overwhelmed by the gift to thank him.  “Oh, it’s too good—­it’s too good!” she said, awestruck by its splendour.

“Nothing is too good for my wife,” he said in his imperial fashion.

Isabel smiled the smile that never reached her shadowed eyes.  “A chain of pearls to bind a bride!” she said.

And the thought flashed upon Dinah that there was truth in her words.  Whether with intention or not, by every gift he gave her he bound her the more closely to him.  An odd little sensation of dismay accompanied it, but she put it resolutely from her.  Bound or not, what did it matter—­since she had no desire to escape?

She thanked him again very earnestly that night in the conservatory, and he pressed her to him and kissed the neck on which his pearls rested with the hot lips of a thirsty man.  But he had himself under control, and when she sought to draw herself away he let her go.  She wondered at his forbearance and was mutely grateful for it.

At Isabel’s suggestion she went up to her room early.  She was certainly weary, but she was radiantly happy.  It had been a wonderful day.  The beauty of the pearls dazzled her.  She kissed them ere she laid them out of sight.  He was good to her.  He was much too good.

There came a knock at the door just as she was getting into bed, and Biddy came softly in, her brown face full of mystery and, Dinah saw at a glance, of anxiety also.

She put up a warning finger as she advanced.  “Whisht, Miss Dinah darlint!  For the love of heaven, don’t ye make a noise!  I just came in to ask ye a question, for it’s worried to death I am.”

“Why what’s the matter, Biddy?” Dinah questioned in surprise.