wearing one of Biddy's voluminous
aprons and mounted on a pair of steps, arranging china on a high shelf
that ran round the old square hall.

The front-door was open, and the birds were singing in the gloaming. She
had been listening to them while she worked, when suddenly this new sound
came. Her heart gave a wild leap and stood still. She had not expected
him to-night.

She sat down on the top of the steps with a swift, indescribable rush of
feeling that seemed to deprive her of all her strength. She could not
have said for the moment if she were glad or dismayed at the sound of
that quiet footfall. But she was quite powerless to go and meet him. A
great wave of shyness engulfed her, possessing her, overwhelming her.

He entered. He came straight to her. She wondered afterwards what he must
have thought of her, sitting there on her perch in burning embarrassment
with no word or sign of welcome. But whatever he thought, he dealt with
the situation with unerring instinct.

He mounted a couple of steps with hands stretched up to hers. "Why, my
Dinah!" he said. "How busy you are! Let me help!"

Her heart throbbed on again, fast and hard. But still for a few seconds
she could not speak. She stooped with a soft endearing sound and laid her
face upon the hands that had clasped her own.

He suffered her for a moment or two in silence; she thought his hands
trembled slightly. Then: "Let's get finished, little wife!" he said
gently. "Isn't the day's work nearly over? Can't we take off our
sandals--and rest?"

"I have just done," she said, finding her voice. "Biddy and I have got
through such a lot. Oh, Scott," as the light fell upon his face, "how
tired you look!"

"It has been rather a tiring day," he made answer. "I didn't think I
could get over here to-night; but Eustace insisted."

"How good of him!" she said, with quick gratitude.

"Yes, he is good," Scott's voice was tender. "I couldn't sleep last
night, and he came into my room, and we had a long talk. He is one of the
best, Dinah; one of the best. I'm afraid you've made--rather a poor
exchange."

Something in his tone banished the last of Dinah's shyness. She gave him
her basket of china and prepared to descend. He stretched up a courteous
hand to help her, but she would have none of it. "You are never to say
that--or anything like it--again," she said severely. "If--if you weren't
so dreadfully tired, I believe I'd be really angry. As it is--" she
reached