CHAPTER VIII
THE VICTORY
The return of Sir Eustace, marshalling the Vicar before him, put an endto further confidences.
Dinah rose nervously to receive the new-comer--a tall, thin man, elderly,with a grave, intellectual face and courteous manner, who looked at herwith a gleam of surprise as he took her shyly proffered hand.
"It is a great privilege to meet you," he said then, and Dinah perceivedat once that he had prepared that remark for someone much more imposingthan herself, and had not time to readjust it.
She thanked him, and he sat down at Scott's invitation and fell into atroubled silence.
Sir Eustace was looking decidedly formidable, and it was not difficult tosee that he had just given an unqualified refusal to his visitor'searnest request.
It was Scott as usual who came to the rescue, breaking through theVicar's abstraction to ask for details concerning certain additions thatwere being made to the Cottage Hospital. He drew Dinah also into theconversation, taking it for granted that she would be interested; andpresently Mr. Grey brightened somewhat, launching into what was evidentlya favourite topic.
"We are hoping," he said, "that the new wing will be completed by the endof June, and it is expected that the Parish Council will request LadyStudley to be good enough to declare it open."
He looked at Dinah with the words, and she realized their significancewith a sharp shock. "Oh, do you mean me?" she said. "I don't think Icould."
"It wouldn't be a very difficult business," said Scott reassuringly.
"Oh, I couldn't!" she said. "Why--why, there would be crowds of people,wouldn't there?"
"I hope to get a few of the County," said Mr. Grey, "to support you."
"That makes it worse," said Dinah.
Scott laughed. "Eustace and I will come too and take care of you. Yousee, the Lady of the Manor has to do these tiresome things."
"Oh! I'll come if you want me," said Dinah. "But I've never done anythinglike that before and I can't think what the County will say. You see, Idon't belong."
"Snap your fingers in its face, and it won't bite you!" said Eustace."You will belong by that time."
Mr. Grey smiled a very kindly smile that had in it a touch of compassion.He said nothing, but in a few minutes he rose to take his leave, andthen, with Dinah's hand held for a moment in his, he said in a low voice,"I wish I might enlist your sympathy on behalf of one of my parishioners.His wife is dying of cancer, and he is to be sent to gaol for poaching."
"Oh!" Dinah exclaimed in distress.
She looked quickly across at her _fiance_, and saw that his brow wasdark.
He said nothing whatever, and she went to him impulsively. "Eustace, mustyou send him to prison?"
He looked at her for a second, then turned, without responding, to theVicar. "That was a very unnecessary move on your part, sir," he saidicily. "I have told you my decision in the matter, and there it mustrest. Justice is justice."
Dinah was looking at him very pleadingly; he laid his hand upon her arm,and she felt his fingers close with a strong, restraining pressure.
Mr. Grey turned to go. "I make no excuse, Sir Eustace," he said. "I ambegging for mercy, not justice. My cause is urgent. If one weapon fails,I must employ another."
He went out with Scott, and Dinah was left alone with Sir Eustace.
He spoke at once, sternly and briefly, before she had time to open herlips. "Dinah, this is no matter for your interference. I forbid you topursue it any further."
His tone was crushingly absolute; she saw that he was white with anger.
She felt the colour die out of her own cheeks as she faced him. But theVicar's few words had made a deep impression upon her; she forced backher fear.
"But, Eustace, is it true?" she said. "Is the man's wife really dying? Ifso--if so--surely you will let him off!"
His grasp upon her arm tightened. "Are you going to disobey me?" he saidwarningly.
His look was terrible, but she braved it. "Yes--yes, I am," she said,with desperate courage. "Eustace, I've never asked you to do anythingbefore. Couldn't you--can't you--do this one thing?"
She met the blazing wrath of his eyes though her heart felt stiff withfear. It had come so suddenly, this ordeal, but she braced herself tomeet it. Horrible though it was to withstand him, the thought came to herthat if she did not make the effort just once she would never have thestrength again.
"You think me very impertinent," she said, speaking quickly throughquivering lips. "But--but--I have a right to speak. If I am to be--yourwife, you must not treat me as--a servant."
She saw his look change. The anger went out of it, but something that wasmore terrible to her took its place, something that she could not meet.
She flinched involuntarily, and in the same moment he drew her close tohim. "Ah, Daphne, the adorable!" he said. "I've never seen you at baybefore! You claim your privileges, do you? You think I can refuse younothing?"
She shrank at his tone--the mastery of it, the confidence, the caress.
"You needn't be afraid," he said, and bent his face to hers. "Whateveryou wish is law. But don't forget one thing! If I refuse you nothing, Imust have everything in exchange. 'Love the gift is Love the debt,' myDaphne. You must give me freely all that you have in return."
She trembled in his embrace. Those passionate words of hisfrightened her anew. Was it possible--would it ever be possible--togive him--freely--all that she had?
The doubt shot through her like the stab of a dagger even while she gavehim the kiss he demanded for her audacity. Her victory over him amazedher, so appalling had seemed the odds. But in a fashion it dismayed hertoo. He was too mighty a giant to kneel at her feet for long. He wouldexact payment in full, she was sure, she was sure, for all that he gaveher now.
She was thankful when a ceremonious knock at the door compelled him torelease her. Biddy presented herself very upright, primly correct.
"If ye please, Miss Dinah, Mrs. Everard is awake and will be pleased tosee ye whenever it suits ye to go to her at all."
"Oh, I'll go now," said Dinah with relief. She glanced at Eustace. "Youdon't mind? You don't want me?"
"No, I have some business to discuss with Stumpy," he said. "Perhaps Iwill join you presently."
He took out a cigarette and lighted it, and Dinah turned; and went awaywith the old woman.
"And it's to be hoped he'll do nothing of the kind," remarked Biddy, asthey walked through the long drawing-room. "For the very thought of himis enough to drive poor Miss Isabel scranny, specially in the evening."
"Is--is Miss Isabel so afraid of him?" asked Dinah under her breath.
Biddy nodded darkly. "She is that, Miss Dinah, and small blame to her."
Dinah pressed suddenly close. "Biddy, why?"
Biddy pursed her lips. "Faith, and it's meself that's afraid, ye'll findthe answer to that only too soon, Miss Dinah dear!" she said solemnly. "Ican't tell ye the straight truth. Ye wouldn't believe me if I did. Yemust watch for yourself, me jewel. Ye've got a woman's intelligence.Don't ye be afraid to use it!"
It was the soundest piece of advice that she had ever heard fromBiddy's lips, and Dinah accepted it in silence. She had known for sometime that Biddy had small love for Sir Eustace, but it was evident thatthe precise reason for this was not to be conveyed in words. She wishedshe could have persuaded her to be more explicit, but something held herback from attempting to gain the information that Biddy withheld. It wasbetter--surely it was sometimes better--not to know too much.
They met Scott as they turned out of the drawing-room, and Biddy's grimold face softened at the sight of him.
He paused: "Hullo! Going to Isabel? Has she had a good rest, Biddy?"
"Glory to goodness, Master Scott, she has!" said Biddy fervently.
"That's all right." Scott prepared to pass on. "Eustace hasn't gone, Isuppose?"
"No, he is in there, waiting for you." Dinah detained him for a moment."Scott, he--I think he is going to--to let
that man off with a lightsentence."
"What?" said Scott. "Dinah, you witch! How on earth did you do it?"
He looked so pleased that her heart gave a throb of triumph. It had beenwell worth while just to win that look from him.
She smiled back at him. "I don't know. I really don't know.But,--Scott"--she became a little breathless--"if--if he really wantsme to-morrow, I think--p'raps--I'd better go."
Scott gave her his straight, level look. There was a moment's pausebefore he said, "Wait till to-morrow comes anyway!" and with that he wasgone, limping through the great room with that steady but unobtrusivepurpose that ever, to Dinah's mind, redeemed him from insignificance.
"Ah! He's the gentleman is Master Scott," said Biddy's voice at her side."Ye'll never meet his like in all the world. It's a sad life he leads,poor young gentleman, but he keeps a brave heart though never a singlejoy comes his way. May the Almighty reward him and give him his desirebefore it's too late."
"What desire?" asked Dinah.
Biddy shot her a lightning glance from her beady eyes ere againmysteriously she shook her head.
"And it's the innocent lamb that ye are entirely, Miss Dinah dear," shesaid.
With which enigmatical answer Dinah was forced to be content.