"I am happy to think that I was able to be of some service to you, mademoiselle. Believe me, it was an honour to fight in your cause."
His eyes were on the fascinating dimple that played about her mouth.
"'Tis very kind of you to say so, sir. I fear we greatly incommoded you-and-" She made a gesture towards his sling.
"That, mademoiselle, is less than nothing. All the obligation is on my side."
Miss Betty bustled forward.
"Now that will do! I never heard such a foolish set of compliments! You are looking tired, Mr. Carr; come into the garden and rest."
Salter stepped forward, but Diana stayed him with uplifted finger.
"If Mr. Carr will accept my arm?" she hazarded.
Jack flushed.
"Indeed, no, Miss Beauleigh-I can-"
"Oh, tut-tut!" cried Miss Betty. "Have done dilly-dallying! Take him out, Di!"
Mr. Beauleigh had already disappeared. His world lay in his library, and he was never far from it for any length of time. Now he had seized the moment when his sister was not looking to withdraw quietly, and, when she turned round, she was only in time to see the library door close softly.
"Your papa has gone again," she remarked to her niece. "What a trying man he is, to be sure!"
She followed the pair out on to the lawn, and helped to make Carstares seat himself in a long chair under a great elm. A cushion was placed under his wounded shoulder and another at his back.
"And are you sure that you are quite comfortable?" inquired Miss Betty, anxiously bending over him.
Jack laughed up at her.
"Quite sure, thank you, madam. But where will you sit?"
"I shall sit in this chair, and Di will sit on a cushion"-throwing one down-"at my feet-so."
"I see that you are all ruled with a rod of iron, mademoiselle," he said, and watched the dimple tremble into being.
"Indeed, yes, sir. 'Tis very sad."
Miss Betty chuckled, and unrolled a packet of silks which she threw into her niece's lap.
"Will you have the goodness to sort those for me, love?" she asked, taking out her embroidery.
"Pray allow me to assist!" pleaded John.
Diana rose and planted her cushion down beside his chair. She then knelt down upon it and emptied the multi-coloured strands on to his knee.
"Very well! You must be very careful to separate the different pinks, though. See, we will have the rose here, the salmon here, the deeper rose here, the pale pink over there, and the reds-there is no more room-we will put the reds in this paper."