ce, which made her
look young and handsome. "It is my greatest pleasure to sing; I believe
if I had nothing else to do I should waste hours at the piano."

"The hours would not be wasted," replied Malcolm. "It is a great gift,
and like all other great gifts it should be utilised as much as
possible. I could find it in my heart to envy you, Miss Templeton."

"Oh, how often I have said that!" chimed in Dinah. "I think I enjoy my
sister's voice as much as she does herself; in the evening she always
sings to me."

"Mr. Herrick and Dinah are trying to make me vainer than I am by
nature," observed Elizabeth with her happy, childlike laugh, as Mr.
Carlyon came to her side. "Cedric, it is such a lovely evening that we
might have our usual stroll. Would you care to come with us?" to
Malcolm.

"You may as well go my way," remarked Mr. Carlyon, and Elizabeth
nodded; and then Dinah fetched her a light gossamer scarf, which she
tied over her head.

"Dinah does not care for moonlight rambles, she thinks them frivolous,"
she observed, as they walked slowly through the dark woodlands, "but
Cedric and I love them. I like the silence and emptiness; the villages
are asleep, and the whole world seems given up to fern-owls and bats
and night-moths. Take care of the branch, Mr. Herrick, or you will
knock your head. It will be lighter on the road outside. I am so used
to this path that I think I could find my way blindfold."

The two young men were before them, but Elizabeth, to Malcolm's relief,
showed no inclination to join them; even at this early stage of their
acquaintance he experienced an odd desire to monopolise her society. He
never felt more content with his surroundings. The tranquillity of the
hour, the soft half-lights, the mystery of the long wide road, with two
dark specks moving before them-all appealed to Malcolm's artistic and
romantic sense.

"It is a study in black and white," he half murmured to himself; but at
that moment he was not thinking of the tall, black-robed woman beside
him, with the shimmering white veil over her head. Nevertheless, when
Elizabeth laughed, he understood her and laughed too.

"Mr. Herrick," she said suddenly, and her voice became grave, "I am so
glad to have this opportunity of speaking to you alone--without my
sister, I mean. For months--for nearly two years--I have longed to see
you and thank you for what you have done for Cedric. No--do not
stop"--for in his surprise Malcolm had pau