“Something like that,” murmured Dinah, with hot face averted.

“Then in heaven’s name, continue to object!” he said, with unusual vehemence.  “You did the right thing, child.  Don’t be drawn into doing what others do!  Strike out a straight line for yourself, and stick to it!  Above all, don’t be ashamed of sticking to it!  No woman was ever yet the better or the more attractive for cultivating her talent for flirting.  Don’t you know that it is your very genuineness and straightforwardness that is your charm?”

Dinah looked at him in sheer surprise.  “I haven’t got any charm,” she said.  “That’s just the trouble.  It was only my dancing that made your brother fancy I had last night.”

Scott’s frown deepened, became almost formidable, then suddenly vanished in a laugh.  “That’s just your point of view,” he said.  “Perhaps it’s a pity to open your eyes.  But whatever you do, don’t try to humour my brother’s whims!  It would be very bad for him, and you certainly wouldn’t gain anything by it.  Put up with me for a change, and come to tea instead!”

A flash of gaiety gleamed for a moment in Dinah’s eyes.  It was the first he had seen that morning.  “I’ll come,” she said, “if Lady Grace will let me.  But I think I had better ask first, don’t you?”

“Perhaps it would be safer,” agreed Scott.  “Tell her my sister is an invalid!  I don’t think she will object.  I made the acquaintance of the doughty Colonel last night.”

“You know he isn’t a bad sort,” said Dinah.  “He is much nicer than Lady Grace or Rose.  Of course he’s rather stuck up, but that’s only natural.  He’s lived so long in India, and now he’s a J.P. into the bargain.  It would be rather wonderful if he were anything else.  Billy can’t bear him, but then Billy’s a boy.”

“I like Billy,” observed Scott.

“Yes, and Billy likes you,” she answered warmly.  “He’s quite an intelligent boy.”

“Evidently,” agreed Scott, with a smile.  “Now here is the village!  Where do I post my letters?”

Dinah directed him with cheerful alacrity.  She was feeling much happier; her tottering self-respect was almost restored.

“He is a dear little man!” she said to herself with enthusiasm, as she waited for him to purchase some stamps.

“You’ve done me no end of good,” she said frankly to the man himself as they turned back.

“I am very pleased to hear it,” said Scott.  “And it is extremely kind of you to say so.”

“It’s the truth,” she maintained.  “And, oh, you haven’t been smoking all this time.  Don’t you want to?”

He stopped at once, and took out his cigarette-case.  “Now you mention it, I think I do.  But I mustn’t dawdle.  I have got to get back to Isabel.”

Dinah waited while the cigarette kindled.  Then, with a touch of shyness, she spoke.

“Mr. Studley, has—­has your sister been an invalid for long?”

He looked at her.  “Do you want to hear about her?”