They had tea in the sunny verandah overlooking the sea. Sir Eustace was very quiet and grave, and it was Scott who gently conversed with the girl, smoothing away all difficulties. She was plainly determined to conquer her nervousness, and she succeeded to a great extent before the ordeal was over. But there was obvious relief in her eyes when Sir Eustace set down his cup and rose to go. "I think I will go to her now," he said. "I shall not wake her." He went, and a great stillness fell behind him. Scott dropped into silence, and they sat together, he smoking, she leaning back in her chair idle, with wistful eyes upon the silvery sea. Up in Isabel's room overhead there was neither sound nor movement, but presently there fell a soft footfall upon the stairs and the nurse came quietly through and spoke to Dinah. "Mrs. Everard is still asleep. Her brother is watching her and Biddy is within call. I thought I would take a little walk on the shore, as I shall not be wanted just at present." "Oh, of course," Dinah said. "Don't hurry back!" The nurse smiled and flitted away into the golden evening sunlight. Dinah turned her head towards her silent companion. "I wonder," she said, "if I could learn to be a nurse." He blew a cloud of smoke into the air. "Are you still worrying about the future?" he said. "I don't know that I am exactly worrying," she made low reply. "But I shall have to decide about it very soon." Scott was silent for a space while he finished his cigarette. Then at last slowly, haltingly, he spoke. "Dinah,--I have been thinking about the future too. If I touch upon anything that hurts you, you must stop me, and I will not say another word. But, child, it seems to me that we shall both be--rather lost--when Isabel is gone. I wonder--would it shock you very much--if I suggested to you--as a solution of the difficulty--that we should some day in the future enter into partnership together?" He spoke with obvious effort; his hands were gripped upon the arms of his chair. The wicker creaked in the strain of his grasp, but he himself remained lying back with eyes half-closed in compulsory inaction. Dinah also sat absolutely still. If his words amazed her, she gave no sign. Only the wistfulness about her mouth deepened as she made answer below her breath. "It--is just like you to suggest such a thing; but--it is quite impossible." He opened his eyes and looked at her very steadily and kindly. "Quite?" he said. She bent her head, swiftly lowering her own. "Yes--thank you a million times--quite." "Even if I promise never to make love to you?" he said, his voice half-quizzical, half-tender. She put out a trembling hand and laid it on his arm. "Oh, Scott,--it--isn't that!"