She slipped her hand from his with a little secret sense of triumph; for though he had so arrogantly asserted himself she was conscious of a certain power over him which gave her confidence. She was firmly convinced in that moment that he would not go.
He rose to leave her as Isabel came softly into the room, and between the brother and sister there flashed a look that was curiously like the crossing of blades.
Isabel came straight to Dinah's side. "You must settle down now, dear child," she said, in that low, musical voice of hers that Dinah loved. "It is getting late, and you didn't sleep well last night."
Dinah smiled, and drew the hand that had so often smoothed her pillow to her cheek. But her eyes were upon Eustace, and she caught a parting gleam from his as with a gesture of farewell he turned away.
"I am much better," she said to Isabel later, as she composed herself to rest. "I feel as if I am going to sleep well."
Isabel stooped to kiss her. "Sleep is the best medicine in the world," she said.
"Do you sleep better now?" Dinah asked, detaining her.
Isabel hesitated for a second. "Oh yes, I sleep," she said then. "I am able to sleep now that you are safe, my darling."
Dinah clung to her. "I can't think what I would do without you," she murmured. "No one was ever so good to me before."
Isabel held her closely. "Don't you realize," she said fondly, "that you have been my salvation."
"Not--not really?" faltered Dinah.
"Yes, really." There was a throb of passion in Isabel's voice. "I have been a prisoner for years, but you--you, little Dinah,--have set me free. I am travelling forward again now--like the rest of the world." She paused a moment, and her arms clasped Dinah more closely still. "I do not think I have very far to go," she said, speaking very softly. "My night has been so long that I think the dawn cannot be far off now. God knows how I am longing for it."
"Oh, darling, don't--don't!" whispered Dinah piteously.
"I won't, dearest." Very tenderly Isabel kissed her again. "I didn't mean to distress you. Only I want you to know that you are just all the world to me--the main-spring of what life there is left to me. I shall never forgive myself for leading you away on that terrible Sunday, and causing you all this suffering."