much. You see, she and Rose are so very smart."
"I see," said Scott.
"Rose has been presented at Court," pursued Dinah. "They always go up for the season. They have a house in town. We always say that Rose is waiting to marry a marquis; but he hasn't turned up yet. You see, she really is much too beautiful to marry an ordinary person, isn't she?"
"Oh, much," said Scott.
Dinah heaved another little sigh; then suddenly she laughed. "But your brother has promised to help me with my skating to-morrow anyhow," she said. "So she won't have him all the time."
"Perhaps the marquis will come along to-morrow," suggested Scott.
"I wish he would," said Dinah, with fervour.
CHAPTER VII
THE BROKEN SPELL
Biddy was in the act of handing round the tea when there came the sound of a step outside, and an impatient hand thrust open the door.
"Hullo, Stumpy!" said a voice. "Are you here? What have you done with
Miss Bathurst? She's engaged to me for the next dance." Eustace entered
with the words, but stopped short on the threshold. "Hullo! You are here!
I thought you had given me the slip."
Dinah looked up at him with merry eyes. "So I have—practically. I am on my way to bed."
"Oh, nonsense!" he said, with his easy imperiousness. "I can't spare you yet. I must have one more dance just to soothe my nerves. I've been dancing with a faultless automaton who didn't understand me in the least. Now I want the real thing again."
"Have some tea!" said Scott.
"Thanks!" Sir Eustace sat down on the edge of the table, facing his sister and Dinah. "You're not going to let me down, now are you?" he said. "I'm counting on that dance, and I haven't enjoyed myself at all since I saw you last. That girl is machine-made. There isn't a flaw in her. She's been turned out of a mould; I'm certain of it. Miss Bathurst, why are you laughing?"
"Because I'm pleased," said Dinah.
"Pleased? I thought you'd be sorry for me. You're going to take pity on me anyway, I hope. The beautiful automaton has gone back to her band-box for the night, so we can enjoy ourselves quite unhindered. Is that for me? Thanks, Biddy! I'm needing refreshment badly."
"You would have preferred coffee," observed Isabel.
It was the first time she had spoken since his entrance. He gave her a keen, intent look. "Oh, this'll do, thanks," he said. "It is all nectar to-night. Why haven't you been down to the ballroom, Isabel? You would have enjoyed it."
Her lips twisted a little. "I have been listening to the music upstairs," she said.
"You ought to have come down," he said imperiously. "I shall expect you next time." His hand inadvertently touched the box on the table and he looked sharply downwards. "Here, Biddy! Take this thing away!" he ordered with a frown.
Isabel leaned swiftly forward. "Give it to me!" she said.
His hand closed upon it. "No. Let Biddy take it!"
"Let me!" said Dinah suddenly, and sprang to her feet.
She took it from him before he had time to protest, and gave it forthwith into Isabel's outstretched hands.
Eustace took up his cup in heavy silence, and drained it.
Then he rose. "Come along, Miss Bathurst!"
But Dinah remained seated. "I am very sorry," she said. "But I can't."
"Oh, nonsense!" He smiled very suddenly and winningly upon her. "Surely you won't disappoint me!"
She shook her head. Her eyes were wistful. "I'm disappointing myself quite as much. But I mustn't. The Colonel has gone to bed with dyspepsia, and Lady Grace and Rose have gone too by this time. I can't come down again."
"Nonsense!" he said again. "You want to. You know you do. No one pays any attention to Mrs. Grundy out here. She simply doesn't exist. Scott can come and play propriety. He's staid enough to chaperon a whole girls' school."
"Thanks, old chap," said Scott. "But I'm not coming down again, either."
Eustace looked over his head. "Then you must, Isabel. Come along! Just to oblige Miss Bathurst! It won't hurt you to sit in a safe corner for one dance."
Isabel looked up at him with a startled expression, as of one trapped.
"Oh, don't ask me!" she said. "I couldn't!"
"No, don't!" said Dinah. "It isn't, fair to bother anyone else on my account! I'm dreadfully sorry to have to refuse. But—in any case—I ought not to come."
"What of that?" said Eustace lightly. "Do you always do what you ought?
What a dull programme!"
Dinah flushed. "Dull but respectable," she said, with a touch of spirit.
He laughed. "But I'm not asking you to do anything very outrageous, and I shouldn't ask it at all if I didn't know you wanted to do it. Besides, you promised. It's generally considered the respectable thing to do to keep one's promises."
That reached Dinah. She wavered perceptibly. "Lady Grace will be so vexed," she murmured.
He snapped his fingers in careless disdain.
She turned appealingly to Scott. "I think I might go—just for one dance, don't you?"
Scott's pale eyes met hers with steady comradeship. "I think I shouldn't," he said.
Eustace turned as if he had not heard and strolled to the door. He opened it, and at once the room was filled with the plaintive alluring strains of waltz-music. He stood and looked back. Dinah met the look, and suddenly she was on her feet.
He held out his hand to her with a smile half-mocking, half-persuasive. The music swung on with a subtle enchantment. Dinah uttered a little quivering laugh, and went to him.
In another moment the door closed, and they stood alone in the passage.
"I knew you wanted to," said Eustace, smiling down into her eyes with the arrogance of the conqueror.
Dinah was panting a little as one who had suffered a sudden strain. "Of course I wanted to," she returned. "But that doesn't make it right."
He pressed her hand to his heart for a moment, and she caught again a glimpse of that fire in his eyes that had so thrilled her. She could not meet it. She stood in palpitating silence.
"Where
