“Your home!  Oh, how lovely!” Genuine delight was in Dinah’s voice.  “Scott is there, isn’t he?”

He frowned again.  “Bother Scott!  You’re coming to see me—­no one else.”

She flushed.  “Oh yes, I know.  And I shall love it—­I shall love it!  But—­do you think I shall be allowed to come?”

“You must come,” he said imperiously.

But Dinah looked dubious.  “I expect I shall be wanted at home now.  And I don’t believe we shall get married in April either.  I’ve been away so long.”

He laughed, flicking her cheek.  “Haven’t I always told you that where there’s a will there’s a way?  If necessary, I can run away with you.”

She shook her head.  “Oh no!  I’d rather not.  And if—­if we’re really going to be married in April, I ought to stay at home to get ready.”

“Nonsense!” he said carelessly.  “You can do that from Willowmount.  Isabel will help you.  It’s less than an hour’s run to town.”

Dinah opened her eyes wide.  “But I shan’t shop in town.  I shall have to make all my things.  I always do.”

He laughed again easily, indulgently.  “That simplifies matters.  You can do that anywhere.  What are you going to be married in?  White cotton?”

She laughed with him.  “I would love to have a real grand wedding,” she said, “the sort of wedding Rose de Vigne will have, with bridesmaids and flowers and crowds and crowds of people.  Of course I know it can’t be done.”  She gave a little sigh.  “But I would love it.  I would love it.”

He was laughing still.  “Why can’t it be done?  Who’s going to prevent it?”

Dinah had become serious.  “Dad hasn’t money enough for one thing.  And then there’s Mother.  She wouldn’t do it.”

“Ho!  Wouldn’t she?  I’ve a notion she’d enjoy it even more than you would.  If you want a smart wedding you’d better have it in town.  Then the de Vignes and everyone else can come.”

“Oh no!  I want it to be here.”  Dinah’s eyes began to shine.  “Dad knows lots of people round about—­County people too.  Those are the sort of people I’d like to come.  Even Mother might like that,” she added reflectively.

“You prefer a big splash in your own little pond to a small one in a good-sized lake, is that it?” questioned Eustace.  “Well, have it your own way, my child!  But I shouldn’t make many clothes if I were you.  We will shop in Paris after we are married, and then you can get whatever you fancy.”

Dinah’s eyes fairly danced at the thought.  “I shall love that.  I’ll tell Daddy, shall I, to keep all his money for the wedding, and then we can buy the clothes afterwards; that is, if you can afford it,” she added quickly.  “I ought not to let you really.”

“You can’t prevent me doing anything,” he returned, his hand pressing her shoulder.  “No one can.”

She leaned her head momentarily against his arm.  “You—­you wouldn’t want to do anything that anyone didn’t like,” she murmured shyly.