e
of relief in her eyes, her face was deathly. "Oh, Scott,--dare I do
that?"

"I shall be there," he said.

"Yes,--yes, you will be there! You won't leave me? Promise!" She clasped
his arm in entreaty.

He looked into her eyes, and there was a great kindness in his own---the
kindness of Greatheart arming himself to defend his pilgrims. "Yes, I
promise that," he said, adding, "unless I leave you at your own desire."

"You will never do that," Dinah said and smiled with quivering lips. "You
are good to me. Oh, you are good! But--but--"

"But what?" he questioned gently.

"He may refuse to set me free," she said desperately. "What then?"

"My dear, no one is married by force now-a-days," he said.

Her face changed as a sudden memory swept across her. "And my mother! My
mother!" she said.

"Don't you think we had better deal with one difficulty at a time?"
suggested Scott.

His hand sought hers, he drew her to her feet.

And, as one having no choice, she submitted and went with him.

It was still raining, but the heaviest of the shower was over. A gleam of
sunshine lit the distance as they went, and a faint, faint ray of hope
dawned in Dinah's heart at the sight. Though her deliverance was yet to
be achieved, though she dreaded unspeakably that which lay before her, at
least the door was open, could she but reach it to pass through. She
breathed a purer air already. And beside her stood Greatheart the
valiant, covering her with his shield of gold.

CHAPTER XVII

THE LION IN THE PATH

A large and merry party of guests were congregated in the great hall at
Perrythorpe Court, having tea. One of them--a young soldier-cousin of the
Studleys--was singing a sentimental ditty at a piano to which no one was
listening; and the hubbub was considerable.

Dinah, admitted into the outer hall that was curtained off from the gay
crowd, shrank nearer to Scott as the cheery tumult reached her.

"Need we--must we--go in that way?" she whispered.

There was a door on the right of the porch. Scott turned towards it.

"I suppose we can go in there?" he said to the man who had admitted them.

"The gun-room, sir? Yes, if you wish, sir. Shall I bring tea?"

"No," Scott said quietly. "Find Sir Eustace Studley if you can, and ask
him to join us there! Come along, Dinah!"

His hand touched her arm. She entered the little room as one seeking
refuge. It led into a conservatory, and thence to the garden. The
apartment