society, or Miss Elizabeth
Templeton that is the attraction," she thought. But, being a loyal
little soul, she never hinted at a certain suspicion that had taken
possession of her mind, even to her husband.

Malcolm received a warm welcome from his mother and Anna the next
evening. He found them sitting by one of the open windows in the large
drawing-room. Mrs. Herrick was working, and Anna was reading to her.
The sun-blinds had just been raised, and the fresh evening air blew
refreshingly through the wide room. The tall green palms behind them
made a pleasant background to Anna's white dress. It struck Malcolm
that she looked paler and more tired, and her eyes had a heavy, languid
look. To his surprise Mrs. Herrick spoke of it at once.

"Anna is not looking her best this evening, Malcolm," she said as he
sat down between them; "this great heat tries her. Dr. Armstrong thinks
we ought to leave town as soon as possible, so we are going to Whitby a
week earlier."

"Mother has cancelled a lot of her engagements," observed Anna, looking
at her affectionately. "I am so sorry to give her all this trouble."
But Mrs. Herrick would not allow her to finish.

"Mothers are only too glad to take trouble for their children," she
said kindly. "Anna has been behaving badly, Malcolm; she fainted at
church on Sunday, and had one of her worst sick headaches afterwards."

There was unmistakable anxiety in Malcolm's eyes when he heard this,
but Anna only laughed it off. The church was hot, she said, any one
might have fainted. But the sea-breezes would soon set her up; they had
beautiful rooms quite close to the sea, with a wide balcony where they
could spend their evenings.

"I hope you will come down to us for a week or two," observed his
mother presently. Malcolm felt rather a twinge of conscience as he
replied that he feared this was impossible; he had some literary work
on hand, which he intended to do at Staplegrove. Mrs. Keston was able
to spare him a nice room, which he could use as a study; and so he had
made his arrangements. And then he added rather regretfully that, as he
was going to the Manor House the following afternoon, he feared that he
should not see them again. Mrs. Herrick said no more, she was not a
woman to waste words unnecessarily; but she was undoubtedly much
disappointed, and even a little hurt, and for the moment Anna looked
grave. At dinnertime she made an effort to recover her spirits, and
questioned Ma