He rose to leave her as Isabel came softly into the room, and between the brother and sister there flashed a look that was curiously like the crossing of blades.
Isabel came straight to Dinah's side. "You must settle down now, dear child," she said, in that low, musical voice of hers that Dinah loved. "It is getting late, and you didn't sleep well last night."
Dinah smiled, and drew the hand that had so often smoothed her pillow to her cheek. But her eyes were upon Eustace, and she caught a parting gleam from his as with a gesture of farewell he turned away.
"I am much better," she said to Isabel later, as she composed herself to rest. "I feel as if I am going to sleep well."
Isabel stooped to kiss her. "Sleep is the best medicine in the world," she said.
"Do you sleep better now?" Dinah asked, detaining her.
Isabel hesitated for a second. "Oh yes, I sleep," she said then. "I am able to sleep now that you are safe, my darling."
Dinah clung to her. "I can't think what I would do without you," she murmured. "No one was ever so good to me before."
Isabel held her closely. "Don't you realize," she said fondly, "that you have been my salvation."
"Not—not really?" faltered Dinah.