ifted his head swiftly, and saw the shadow of mortal pain gathering
in her eyes. He commanded himself on the instant and rose. Self-contained
and steady, he found and administered the remedy that was always kept at
hand.

Then, as the spasm passed, he stooped and quietly kissed the white
forehead. "Don't trouble about me, dear!" he said. "God knows I would not
keep you from your rest."

And with that calmly he turned and left her.

But Biddy, whom he sought a few moments later to send her to her
mistress, saw in him notwithstanding his composure, an intensity of
suffering that struck dismay to her honest heart. "The Lord preserve us!"
she said. "But Master Scott has the look of a man with a sword in his
soul!" She wiped her own tears away with a trembling hand. "And what'll
he do at all when Miss Isabel's gone," she said, "unless Miss Dinah does
the comforting of him?"

CHAPTER XXV

THE TRUSTY FRIEND

The trains from the junction to Heath-on-Sea were few and invariably
late. Scott had been pacing the platform for half an hour on the evening
of the day that followed his own arrival ere a line of distant smoke told
of the coming of the train he was awaiting.

His movements were slow and weary, but there was about him the strained
look of a man who cannot rest. There was no gladness of welcome in his
eyes as the train drew near. It was rather as if he braced himself for a
coming ordeal.

He searched the carriages intently as they ran past him, and a flicker of
recognition came into his face at the sight of a tall figure leaning from
one of them. He lifted a hand in salutation, and limped along the
platform to meet the newcomer.

Sir Eustace was out of the train before anyone else. He met his brother
with the impetuosity of one who cannot stop for greeting.

"Ah, Stumpy! I'm not too late?"

There was strain upon his face also as he flung the question, and in an
instant Scott's look had changed. He grasped the outflung hand.

"No, no, old fellow! It's all right. She is looking forward to seeing
you."

Sir Eustace drew a sharp breath. His dark face relaxed a little. "I've
had a hell of a time," he said.

"My dear chap, I'm sorry," impulsively Scott made answer. "I'd have met
you at the junction, only it was difficult to get away for so long. Do
you mind walking up? They'll see to fetching your traps along presently."

"Oh, all right. Yes, let us walk by all means!" Eustace expanded his
chest, and b