he set her tray down by Dinah's side, but Dinah
did not even look at it. She raised herself instead, and threw warm arms
around the old woman's neck. "Oh, Biddy," she said, "Biddy, darling, I
can't think what ever I'd do without you!"

Biddy uttered a sharp sob, and gathered her close. But in a moment,
half-angrily, "And what is it that I'd be crying for at all?" she said.
"Isn't my dear Miss Isabel safer with the Almighty than ever she was with
me? Isn't she gone to the blessed saints in Paradise? And would I have
her back? No, no! I'm not that selfish, Miss Dinah. I'm an old woman
moreover, and be the same token me own time can't be so far off now."

But Dinah clung faster to her. "Please, Biddy, please--don't talk like
that! I want you," she said.

"Ah, bless the dear lamb!" said Biddy, and tenderly kissed the upturned,
pleading face. "Miss Isabel said ye would now. But when ye've got Master
Scott to take care of ye, it's not old Biddy that ye'll be wanting any
longer."

"I shall," Dinah vowed. "I shall. I shall always want my Biddy."

"And may the Lord Almighty bless ye for the word!" said Biddy.

When Dinah was dressed, a great shyness fell upon her, born partly of the
still mystery of the presence of Death that wrapped the little house.
She stood by the window of her room, looking forth, irresolute, over the
evening sea.

The blinds were drawn only in the room of Death, for Scott had so
decreed, and the air blew in sweet and fresh from the rippling water.

After a few minutes, Biddy came softly up behind her. "And is it himself
ye're looking for, mavourneen?" she murmured at Dinah's shoulder.

Dinah started a little and flushed. She wondered if Biddy knew all or
only guessed. "I don't know--what to do," she said rather confusedly.

Biddy gave her a quick, wise look. "Will I tell ye a secret, Miss Dinah
dear?" she whispered.

Dinah looked at her. The old woman's face was full of shrewd
understanding. "Yes, tell me!" she said somewhat breathlessly.

Biddy's brown hand grasped her arm. "Master Scott went to town this
morning," she said. "He'll be back any minute now. Sir Eustace is
downstairs. He wants to see ye--to tell ye something--before Master Scott
gets back."

"Oh, what--what?" gasped Dinah.

"There, now, there! Don't ye be afraid!" said Biddy, her beady eyes
softening. "It's something ye'll like. Master Scott--he's not the
gentleman to make ye do anything ye don't want to do. Don't ye trust hi