Brothers -- Fiction; Love stories; Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
Scott raised his shoulders. "We were talking together. I can't tell you
exactly what caused it. It came rather suddenly. Biddy and I brought her
round almost immediately, and she declares that she will make the
journey. She did not wish me to tell you of it, but I thought it better."
"Of coarse." Sir Eustace's voice was short and stern; his face wore a
heavy frown. "But something must have caused it. What were you talking
about?"
Scott hesitated for a second. "I can't tell you that, old fellow," he
said then.
Eustace uttered a brief laugh. "Too personal, eh? Well, how did it
happen? Did she suddenly lose consciousness?"
"She suddenly gasped, and said her heart had stopped. She fell across the
table. I called to Biddy, and we lifted her and gave her brandy. That
brought her to very quickly. I left her lying down in her room. But she
says she feels much better, and she is very set upon leaving the
arrangements for the journey unaltered."
Scott spoke rather wearily. Dinah's heart went out to him in swift
sympathy which she did not know how to express.
"May I--could I--go to her?" she suggested, after a moment timidly.
Scott turned to her instantly. "Please do! I know she would like to see
you. We ought to be starting in another quarter of an hour. The sleigh
will be here directly."
"May I do as I like about--about telling her?" Dinah asked, pausing.
Scott's eyes shone with a very kindly gleam. "Of course, I know you will
not startle her. You always do her good."
The words followed her as she turned away. How good he was to her! How
full of understanding and human sympathy! Her heart throbbed with a
warmth that filled her with an odd desire to weep. She wished that
Eustace did not treat him quite so arrogantly.
And then, looking back, she reproached herself for the thought; for
Eustace had linked a hand in his arm, and she saw that they were walking
together in complete accord.
"But I will never--no, never--call him Stumpy!" she said to herself, as
she passed into the hotel.
She went up the stairs rapidly, and hastened to Isabel's room. That look
she had caught in Scott's face--that stricken look--had doubtless been
brought there by his sudden anxiety for his sister. That would fully
account for it, she was sure.
On the threshold of Isabel's room an overwhelming nervousness assailed
her. How was she going to tell her of the wonderful event that had taken
place in the last half-hour? On the other hand, how could she possibly
suppress so tremendous a matter? And again, the disquieting question
arose; could she be ill--really ill? Scott had looked so troubled--so
unutterably sad.
With an effort she summoned her courage, and softly knocked.
Instantly a low voice answered her, bidding her enter. She opened the
door and went in, feeling as though she were treading sacred ground.
But Isabel's voice spoke again instantly, greeting her; and
in a moment all her doubts, all her forebodings, were gone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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