ized the change and
relented somewhat towards him though she never wholly brought herself to
look upon him as an ally.

It was on a stormy evening at the beginning of July that Dinah was
sitting alone in the little creeper-grown verandah watching the wonderful
greens and purples of the sea when Eustace came soft-footed through the
window behind her and sat down in a chair close by, which Scott had
vacated a few minutes before.

Scott had just gone to the village post-office with some letters,
but she had refused to accompany him, for it was the hour when she
usually sat with Isabel. She glanced at Eustace swiftly as he sat down,
half-expecting a message from the sick-room. But he said nothing, merely
leaning back in the wicker-chair, and fixing his eyes upon the sombre
splendour of endless waters upon which hers had been resting. There was a
massive look about him, as of a strong man deliberately bent to some
gigantic task. A little tremor went through her as furtively she watched
him. His silence, unlike the silences of Scott, was disquieting. She
could never feel wholly at ease in his presence.

He turned his head towards her after a few seconds of absolute stillness,
and in a moment her eyes sank. She sat in palpitating silence, as one
caught in some disgraceful act.

But still he did not speak, and the painful colour flooded her face under
his mute scrutiny till in sheer distress she found herself forced to take
the initiative.

"Is--Isabel expecting me?" she faltered. "Ought I to go?"

"No," he said quietly. "She is dozing. Old Biddy is with her."

It seemed as if the intolerable silence were about to fall again. She
cast about desperately for a means of escape. "Biddy was up and down
during the night. I think I will relieve her for a little while and let
her rest."

She would have risen with the words, but unexpectedly he reached forth a
detaining hand. "Do you mind waiting a minute?" he said. "I will not
say--or do--anything to frighten you."

He spoke with a faint smile that somehow hurt her almost unbearably. She
remained as she was, leaning forward in her chair. "I--am not afraid,"
she murmured almost inaudibly.

His hand seemed to plead for hers, and in a moment she laid her own
within it. "That's right," he said. "Dinah, will you try and treat me as
if I were a friend--just for a few minutes?"

The tone of his voice--like his smile--pierced her with a poignancy that
sent the quick tears to her