He moved to meet them, and she heard his voice greet her as he raised his cap. "So you have been for your farewell stroll!"
She did not answer in words, only she freed her hand from Eustace with a resolute little tug and gave it to him.
Eustace spoke, a species of half-veiled insolence in his tone. "Like the psalmist she went forth weeping and has returned bearing her sheaf with her—in the form of a fairly substantial fiancé."
Dinah ventured to cast a lightning-glance at Scott to see how he took the information and was conscious of an instant's shock. He looked so grey, so ill, like a man who had received a deadly wound.
But the impression passed in a flash as she felt his hand close upon hers.
"My dear," he said simply, "I'm awfully pleased."
The warm grasp did her good. It brought her swiftly back to a normal state of mind. She drew a hard breath and met his eyes, reassuring herself in a moment with the conviction that after all he looked quite as usual. Somehow her imagination had tricked her. His kindly smile seemed to make everything right.
"Oh, it is kind of you not to mind," she said impulsively.
Whereat Sir Eustace laughed. "He is rather magnanimous, isn't he? Well, come along and tell Isabel!"
Scott's eyes came swiftly to him. He released Dinah, and offered his hand to his brother. "Let me congratulate you, old chap!" he said, his voice rather low. "I hope you will both have—all happiness."