ove. But his
exasperating humility was such that he never suspected the real reason
for your change of mind, and when I accused him of cutting me out, he was
as scandalized as only a righteous man knows how to be. You can't do much
with a fellow like that, you know,--a fool who won't believe the evidence
of his own senses. Besides, it was not for me to enlighten him,
particularly as you didn't want him to know the real state of things just
then. So I left him alone. The next day--only the next day, mind you--the
silent knight opened his heart; to whom, do you think? You'll be horribly
furious when I tell you."

He looked into the hot eyes with an expression half-tender in his own.

"Tell me!" breathed Dinah.

"Really? Well, prepare for a nasty shock! To Rose de Vigne!"

"To Rose!" Indignation gave place to bewilderment in Dinah's eyes.

"Even so; to Rose. She guessed the truth, and he frankly admitted she was
right, but gave her to understand that as he hadn't a chance in the
world, you were never to know. I am telling you the truth, Dinah. You
needn't look so incredulous. She naturally considered that he was not
treating you very fairly and said so. But--" he raised his shoulders
slightly--"you know Scott. Mules can't compete with him when he has made
up his mind to a thing. He gracefully put an end to the discussion and
doubtless he has buried the whole subject in a neat little corner of his
heart where no one can ever tumble over it, and resigned himself to a
lonely old age. Now, Dinah, I am going to give you the soundest piece of
advice I have ever given anyone. If you are wise, you will dig it up
before the moss grows, bring it into the air and call it back to life. It
is the greatest desire of Isabel's heart to see you two happy together.
She told me so only to-day. And I am beginning to think that I wish it
too."

His look was wholly kind as he uttered the last words. He held her hand
in the close grip of a friend.

"Don't let that insane humility of his be his ruin!" he urged. "He's a
fool. I've always said so. But his foolishness is the sort that attacks
only the great. Once let him know you care, and he'll be falling over
himself to propose."

"Oh, don't!" Dinah begged, and her voice sounded chill and yet somehow
piteous. "I couldn't--ever--marry him. I told him so--only the other
day."

"What? He proposed, did he?" Sheer amazement sounded in Eustace's voice.

Dinah was not looking at him any longe