Dolly said not a word in answer. She only put both arms round Dorothea, and held her fast, as if thus cementing the friendship which was to have been, but which hardly yet had begun to be between them.
Five o'clock drew near, and Dolly was in the study. Dorothea wondered how affairs would fit in. Would Edred be too shy to use his opportunity? And would Mervyn appear at all? Her thoughts were in a whirl, but by no means on her own account only. The last few days had been an education in unselfishness.
Both Colonels were absent on a long ramble, and Mrs. Erskine had not appeared from her afternoon repose, when the two Claughtons marched in together. Isabel fled at the sound of the front door opening; Margot alone remaining with Dorothea. The latter could not guess whether this were a condition of things purposely arranged. She only knew that it was unusual. Her own face, commonly pale, had perhaps never been brighter or prettier than now when for the first time she could venture to meet Mervyn with an unchecked smile of welcome. She did not seem excited, but there was a glow in her cheeks, and the placid eyes shone softly through their glasses.
"Dolly is in the study," Margot remarked, as Edred glanced round.
Margot had evidently no intention of saying more. She seated herself, and began to talk to Mervyn, while Edred showed not the least disposition to act on his own behalf. In another moment, he too would have subsided into a chair, but Dorothea stood up, and came close to him.
"Dolly is in the study," she repeated in an undertone, not meant for the other two. "You told me yesterday that you wanted to see her."
"Well, yes," assented Edred.
"She is there on the sofa; why not go to her—now?"
"At once!" Edred seemed reluctant. "What is the use?" he asked despondingly.
"The use! Make it of use. O go, do go!"