sit down!"

im, but she had not seen him. She looked at him for a

n eager greeting. "Oh, Mr. Studley, I want to th

t down beside her. "You

e assured him. "Thank you

me?" questi

he magician who pulled the strings. I should neve

protest. "Oh, surely! I

ugly goblin into a very happy butterfly. I'm downright ashamed of myself for being so horrid about Rose de Vigne. She isn'

hem with a smile o

g generous," r

I've never had such a happy time,-never, never, never! Isn't your brother wonderful? His dancing is-" Wo

," said Scott. "He has plenty to ch

if it's true!-he says I am th

very nice-for him," he observed. "I thoug

r late partner and the beautiful Miss de Vigne

!" she sai

er. "Isn't she a goo

has plenty of partners anyway. At least I've always heard so.

her to come down, but she wouldn't be persuaded. Sh

" said Dinah in tones o

nk her for lending me

o her if you'll c

she will like it?" Dinah's bright eyes met his with frank dir

trude. Shall we go then? Are you sure there

ly Dinah's look sought her late p

mall, friendly squeeze upon it. "I've never enjoyed mys

really!

for you. And I should certainly never have danced with your brother. He has

er," sa

er?" Dinah looked

nd turned the subject. "Wouldn't you l

st thirsty. She did not feel as if she

eep you long then. Who is that lady making sign

inah. "You come too,

I'm sure it can't b

ady Grace sat. She was a large, fair woman with limpid eyes an

ind time in starting. Your mother would not like you to stay up late, I feel sure. You had

ady Grace, I'm not in the least tired. And I'm not a bab

fled. "Rose has decided to retire after this dance, and I shall do the same.

very well," she said s

d better go a

iently. They ascende

p of the flight Dinah'

bad? Why should I go t

? I don't believe it's

o think that I am hav

-than

I think?" aske

, facing hi

"I think that-like Cinderella-you may

tested Dinah. "Your brother

augh. "Oh, believe me, i

ts his own way

y. "It does seem such a shame. He

airily. "We can all be nice w

n attention. "Are you pointing

to," sai

in a gay laugh. "You do it very nicely," she said. "Thank you, Mr. Studley. I won't be grumpy

ke it quite clear to him that Cinderella was not to bla

have opened it, but Dinah, smitte

go in first and-and

essary," he said, a

door behind ye! The racket downstairs is sending Miss Isabel nearly crazy, poor lamb. And it's meself

go if you like. I've come to sit with Miss Isabel for a while. And I'

her shyness went with her. She was aware of something intangib

in the middle of the room with a sheaf of letters littered before her.

of eager expectancy. For the fraction of a second Dinah saw dark, sun

species of dull wonder. "Are you a friend of Scott's

through her, dispelling her doubt. Something in her responded swiftly, even passio

oice at her shoulder. "Isabel, this is M

y at her heart that was almost too poignant to be borne. "Thank you so very, very

t smile was in their depths. "Are we strangers, child?" the low voice asked. "I fee

kind," she said, and her little hand closed with confidence upon the limp, cold fingers. "I am wearing your things

upon the girlish face. "Keep them if you like them! I shall n

und. "Don't be talking to the young lady of such things! Won't

urs. Isabel, Miss Bathurst is a keen dancer. She and Eustace have been

looked into the brown, piquant face

it," sa

tace kin

Dinah spoke with

n. "But I should think everyone is kind to you, child," she sa

ink so if you saw me in my ordinary dress," she said. "I'm nothing at al

er things. I am looking through your eyes into your soul. It is that that ma

!" cried Dinah, conscience-stricken. "I

ar child," Isabel said. "You have helped me-you could help me in a way that probably you

fore her, laying the letters toget

?" asked Di

d, your hands must not touch them

to her, and laid the letters within it. Th

racking me all the evening. Yes, you love it, of course. That is natural. I loved it once. It is always s

s. "I like sitting out too sometimes

y looked at her with a kind of incredu

s while the world goes by. They are all hurrying forward so eager to ge

go forward somehow

," said

reary conviction. "Not the prisoners,

imes. I know at home it's just like being in a cage. Nothing ever happens worth mentioning. And then quite suddenly the door is o

your mother?

d again. "Yes, of course,

ould say more; but he passed quietly o

but oh, so dull. The de Vignes are the rich people of the plac

and she looked

ty people and the shop people are the only ones th

. But if you only knew it, the people who call th

ed Dinah. "But if you were me, and lived always under the s

Vignes?" asked

us. He knew how dreadfully we wanted to go. The Colonel is rather good-natured over some things, and he

," sai

ve a house in town. We always say that Rose is waiting to marry a marquis; but he hasn't turn

ch," sa

"But your brother has promised to help me with my skating to-

will come along to-mo

ld," said Dina