t. I know the signs. What have you been doing at
Willowmount?"

It was a welcome change of subject, and Scott was not slow to avail
himself of it. They began to talk upon matters connected with the estate,
and the personal element passed completely out of the conversation.

When they reached the white house on the cliff they almost seemed to have
slipped into the old casual relations; but the younger brother was well
aware that this was not so. The change that had so amazed him was
apparent to him at every turn. The overbearing mastery to which he had
been accustomed all his life had turned in some miraculous fashion into
something that was oddly like deference. It was fully evident that
Eustace meant to keep his word and leave him in command.

Dinah met them in the rose-twined portico. There was a deep flush in her
cheeks; her eyes were very bright, resolutely unafraid. She shook hands
with Eustace, and he alone was aware of the tremor that ran through her
whole being as she did so.

"Isabel is asleep," she said. "She often gets a sleep in the afternoon,
and she is always the stronger for it when she wakes. Will you have some
tea before you go to her?"

They had tea in the sunny verandah overlooking the sea. Sir Eustace was
very quiet and grave, and it was Scott who gently conversed with the
girl, smoothing away all difficulties. She was plainly determined to
conquer her nervousness, and she succeeded to a great extent before the
ordeal was over. But there was obvious relief in her eyes when Sir
Eustace set down his cup and rose to go.

"I think I will go to her now," he said. "I shall not wake her."

He went, and a great stillness fell behind him. Scott dropped into
silence, and they sat together, he smoking, she leaning back in her chair
idle, with wistful eyes upon the silvery sea.

Up in Isabel's room overhead there was neither sound nor movement, but
presently there fell a soft footfall upon the stairs and the nurse came
quietly through and spoke to Dinah.

"Mrs. Everard is still asleep. Her brother is watching her and Biddy is
within call. I thought I would take a little walk on the shore, as I
shall not be wanted just at present."

"Oh, of course," Dinah said. "Don't hurry back!"

The nurse smiled and flitted away into the golden evening sunlight.

Dinah turned her head towards her silent companion. "I wonder," she said,
"if I could learn to be a nurse."

He blew a cloud of smoke into the air. "Ar