They went on down the hill, talking but little. Speech in Scott's society was never a necessity. His silences were so obviously friendly. He had a shrewd suspicion on this occasion that the girl beside him had something to say, and he waited for it with a courteous patience, abstaining from interrupting her very evident preoccupation.
They walked between fields of snow, all glistening in the sunshine. The blue of the sky was no longer sapphire but glorious turquoise. The very air sparkled, diamond-clear in the crystal splendour of the day.
Suddenly Dinah spoke. "I suppose one always feels horrid the next morning."
"Are you feeling the reaction?" asked Scott.
"Oh, it isn't only that, I'm feeling--ashamed," said Dinah, blushing very deeply.
He did not look at her. "I don't see why," he said gently, after a moment.
"Oh, but you do!" she said impatiently. "At least you can if you try. You knew I was wrong to go down again for that last dance, just as well as I did. Why, you tried to stop me!"
"Which was very presumptuous of me," said Scott.
"No, it wasn't. It was kind. And I--I was a perfect pig not to listen. I want you to know that, Mr. Studley. I want you to know that I'm very, very sorry I didn't listen." She spoke with trembling vehemence.
Scott smiled a little. He was looking tired that morning. There were weary lines about his eyes. "I don't know why you should be so very penitent, Miss Bathurst," he said. "It was quite a small thing."
"It got me into bad trouble anyway," said Dinah. "I've had a tremendous wigging from the Colonel this morning, and if--if I ever do anything so bad again, we're to be sent home."
"I call that unreasonable," said Scott with decision. "It was not such a serious matter as all that. If you want my opinion, I think it was a mistake--a small mistake--on your part; nothing more."
"But that wasn't all," said Dinah, looking away from him and quickening her pace, "I--I have offended your brother too."
"Good heavens!" said Scott. "And is that serious too?"
"Don't laugh!" protested Dinah. "Of course it's serious. He--he won't even look at me this morning." The sound of tears came suddenly into her voice. "I was waiting for you on the verandah a little while ago, and--and he went by with Rose and never glanced my way. All because--because--oh, I am a little fool!" she declared, with an angry stamp of the foot as she walked.