Brothers -- Fiction; Love stories; Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
Another thought came to her--of an even more disturbing nature. Save for
old Biddy and the nurse, she was alone with the two brothers now. Would
they--would they insist upon sending her home until--until Scott was
ready to come and take her away? Oh, surely--surely Scott would never ask
that of her!
Nevertheless the thought tormented her. She did not see any way out of
the difficulty, and she was terribly afraid that Scott would be equally
at a loss.
"I don't think I could bear it," she whispered to herself. "And yet--if
he says so--if he says so--I suppose I must. I couldn't refuse--if he
said so."
The soft opening of the door recalled her to the immediate present. She
saw old Biddy's face with its watchful, guardian look peep stealthily in
upon her.
"Ah, mavourneen!" she whispered fondly, coming forward. "And is it awake
ye are? I've peeped round at ye this five times, and ye were sleeping
like a new-born babe. Lie still, darlint, while I fetch ye a cup o' tay
then!"
She was gone with the words, but in a very little she was back again with
her own especial brew. She 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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