fellow-visitors. But
Dinah proved herself so adroit and impartial at this game that she
presently became a general target, and found it advisable to retreat
before she was routed. This she did with considerable skill and no small
strategy, finally darting flushed and breathless into the hotel, covered
with snow from head to foot, but game to the last.

"Well done!" commented a lazy voice behind her. "Now raise the drawbridge
and lower the portcullis, and the honours of war are assured."

She turned with the flashing movement of a bird upon the wing, and found
herself face to face with Sir Eustace.

His blue eyes met hers with deliberate nonchalance. "Sit down," he said,
"while I fetch you some tea!"

Her heart gave an odd little leap that was half of pleasure and half of
dread. She stammered incoherently that he must not take the trouble.

But he was evidently bent upon so doing, for he pressed her into the seat
which he had just vacated. "Keep the place in the corner for me!" he
commanded, and lounged away upon his errand with imperial leisureliness.

Dinah watched his tall figure out of sight. The encounter both astounded
and thrilled her. She wondered if she were cheapening herself by meekly
obeying his behest, wondered what Rose--that practised coquette--would
have done under such circumstances; but to depart seemed so wholly out of
the question that she dismissed the wonder as futile. She could only wait
for the play to develop, and trust to her own particular luck, which had
so favoured her the night before, to give her a cue.

He returned with tea and cake which he set before her on a little table
that he had apparently secured beforehand for the purpose. "I am sure you
must be ravenous," he said, in those high-bred, somewhat insolent accents
of his.

"I am," Dinah admitted frankly.

"Then let me see you satisfy your hunger!" he said, seating himself in
the corner he had reserved.

"Oh, but not alone!" she protested. "You--you must have some too."

He laughed. "No. I am going to smoke--with your permission. It will do me
more good."

"Oh, pray do!" said Dinah, embarrassed still but strangely elated. "It
makes me feel rather greedy, that's all."

"I am greedy too," he told her, his blue eyes still upon her vivid,
sparkling face. "And--always with your permission--I am going to indulge
my greed."

She did not understand him, but prudence restrained her from telling him
so. Seated as she was he was