“But surely Dinah wouldn’t be such a little fool as to go too!” burst forth the Colonel.  “She’s sane enough, when she isn’t larking about with other fools.”  He glared at Sir Eustace.  “And how the devil are we to know where to look, I’d like to know?  We can’t hunt all over the Alps.”

“There may be some dogs in the village,” Scott said.  “There is certainly a guide.  I will go down at once and see what I can find.”

“No, no, Stumpy!  Not you!” Sharply Sir Eustace intervened.  “I won’t have you go.  It’s not your job, and you are not fit for it.”  He laid a peremptory hand upon his brother’s shoulder.  “That’s understood, is it?  You will not leave the hotel.”

He spoke with stern insistence, looking Scott straight in the eyes; and after a moment or two Scott yielded the point.

“All right, old chap!  I’m not much good, I know.  But for heaven’s sake, lose no time.”

“No time will be lost.”  Sir Eustace turned round upon the Colonel.  “We can’t have any but young men on this job,” he said.  “See if you can muster two or three to go with me, will you?  A doctor if possible!  And we shall want blankets and restoratives and lanterns.  Stumpy, you can see to that.  Yes, and send for a guide too though he won’t be much help in a thick mist.  And take that wailing woman away!  Have everything ready for us when we come back!  They can’t have gone very far.  Isabel hasn’t the strength.  I shall be ready immediately.”

He turned to the stairs and went up them in great leaps, leaving the little group below to carry out his orders.

There was a momentary inaction after his departure, then Scott limped across to the door and opened it.  Thick darkness met him, the clammy darkness of fog, and the faint, faint rustle of falling snow.

He closed the door and turned back, meeting the Colonel’s eyes, “It’s hard to stay behind, sir,” he said.

The Colonel nodded.  He liked Scott.  “Yes, infernally hard.  But we’ll do all we can.  Will you find the doctor and get the necessaries together?  I’ll see to the rest.”

“Very good, sir; I will.”  Scott went to the old woman who still sobbed piteously into her apron.  “Come along, Biddy!  There’s plenty to be done.  Miss Isabel’s room must be quite ready for her when she comes back, and Miss Bathurst’s too.  We shall want boiling water—­lots of it.  That’s your job.  Come along!”

He urged her gently to the stairs, and went up with her, holding her arm.

At the top she stopped and gave him an anguished look.  “Ah, Master Scott darlint, will the Almighty be merciful?  Will He bring her safe back again?”

He drew her gently on.  “That’s another thing you can do, Biddy,” he said.  “Ask Him!”

And before his look Biddy commanded herself and grew calmer.  “Faith, Master Scott,” she said, “if it isn’t yourself that’s taught me the greatest lesson of all!”

A very compassionate smile shone in Scott’s eyes as he passed on and left her.  “Poor old Biddy,” he murmured, as he went.  “It’s easy to preach to such as you.  But, O God, there’s no denying it’s bitter work for those who stay behind!”