"But I shan't be a bit tired," protested Dinah, faintly indignant.
"Of course not," laughed Sir Eustace. "You will be just ripe for a little fun. There's quite a cosy sitting-out place at the end of our corridor. I should go to bed _viâ_ that route."
She lifted her head in astonishment, and met the eyes that so thrilled her. "But--but that would be wrong!" she said.
"I've done naughtier things than that, my virtuous sprite," he said.
But Dinah did not laugh. Very suddenly quite unbidden there flashed across her the memory of Scott's look the night before and her own overwhelming confusion beneath it. What would her friend Mr. Greatheart say to such a proposal? What would he say could he see her now? The hot blood rushed to her face at the bare thought. She drew herself away from him. Her rapture was gone; she was burningly ashamed. The Colonel's majestic displeasure was as nothing in comparison with Scott's wordless disapproval.
"Oh, I couldn't do that," she said. "I--couldn't. I ought not to be here with you now."
"My fault," he said easily. "I brought you here before you knew where you were. If you go to confession, you can mention that as an extenuating circumstance."
"Oh, don't!" said Dinah, inexplicably stung by his manner. "It--it isn't nice of you to talk like that."
He put out his hand and touched her arm lightly, persuasively. "Then you are angry with me?" he said.
Her resentment melted. She threw him a fleeting smile. "No--no! But how could you imagine I could tell anyone? You didn't seriously--you couldn't!"
"There isn't much to tell, is there?" he said, his fingers closing gently over the soft roundness of her arm. "And you don't like that plan of mine?"
"I didn't say I didn't like it," said Dinah, her eyes lowered. "But--but--I can't do it, that's all. I'm going now. Good-bye!"
She turned to go, but his fingers still held. He drew a step nearer.
"Daphne, remember--you are not to run away!"
A transient dimple showed at the corner of Dinah's mouth. "You must let me go then," she said.
"And if I do--how will you reward me?" His voice was very deep; the tones of it sent a sharp quiver through her. She felt unspeakably small and helpless.
She made a little gesture of appeal. "Please--please let me go! You know you are much stronger than I am."