hat she means," returned Elizabeth thoughtfully.
"Youth is so fond of mysteries, and all its castles have endless
winding galleries, that lead to all sorts of curious nooks and corners.
When we grow older our horizon widens--we care more for utility and
less for subterranean passages. What could be better than a market,
where one sells one's best and most durable goods pro bono publico!"

Malcolm was delighted with this answer. Miss Elizabeth Templeton might
not be a profound student of books, but she was certainly an
intelligent and sympathetic woman. They had turned into the woodlands
by this time, and Elizabeth, who was determined to entertain their
guest to the best of her ability, proposed that they should stroll down
to the Pool.

"If you will go on, I will just fetch my work," she observed, "and tell
Dinah where we are going, and then Cedric will join us. He ought to
have been back by now." Then Malcolm, in high good-humour, sauntered
over the rustic bridge and amused himself by looking down on
Elizabeth's wild garden.

"Oh, Betty, what a pity to wear your pretty new hat!" exclaimed Dinah,
looking up from her accounts. She was rather a martinet on the subject
of dress, and had funny little old-fashioned notions of her own; but
Elizabeth, who was ten years younger, was more up-to-date.

"It was part of the programme," she returned solemnly; "and the
sunshade too. I was determined to make myself as nice as possible.
Remember, I trimmed it myself, Die, and as I had the materials it only
cost me five shillings." Here she took it off and looked at it
admiringly, for Elizabeth was rather fond of dress in her way. "My
sailor hat will do for the Pool. I wish you could come with us, dear."
Then, as Dinah shook her head, "Yes, I see, you are busy, so I will not
bother you. Please tell Cedric where we have gone."

Malcolm was still on the little bridge when Elizabeth rejoined him. He
looked regretfully at the sailor hat.

"It does not suit her a bit," he thought. "I wonder a sensible woman
like Miss Templeton does not know what becomes her. Anna would never
have made such a mistake." But Elizabeth, unconscious of this criticism
of her offending head-gear, walked on serenely.

Some of the dogs had followed them, and while Elizabeth worked at a
piece of beautiful embroidery, Malcolm amused himself with throwing
sticks into the pond for their delectation; and as soon as he was weary
of the sport, he stretched himself c