s of female friendship.

Malcolm would willingly have heard more, but a curious sort of
embarrassment and a fear of betraying too deep an interest made him
speak of her sister.

"Miss Templeton seems to have a happy nature," he said a little
abruptly. "I never saw any one so perfectly peaceful and serene; it
makes one better only to look at her. Her hair is gray, and yet when
she smiles one is reminded of an innocent child, it is such a perfectly
radiant expression."

"Yes, I know. Dear Dinah, she has the secret of perpetual youth. She is
one of 'the little ones'--you know what I mean. When I talk to her, as
I tell Elizabeth sometimes, I feel such a worldly, frivolous creature.
Her sister perfectly realises this, for she has the prettiest names for
her. 'That angel-woman,' I have heard her say that; very often she
calls her 'das Engelkind;' and without exaggeration she has a rare and
beautiful nature."

Malcolm assented to this, then he said slowly, "Has it ever struck you
that there are no lines on Miss Templeton's face? I should think her
life-story must be a happy one. I mean, that she has not known any very
great trouble." Then rather a peculiar expression crossed Mrs.
Godfrey's face. "Ah, I see I have made a mistake," observed Malcolm
quickly.

"Yes, you have made a mistake," she replied a little sadly. "Did you
really think that even Dinah Templeton could have her forty years in
the wilderness without her share of pain and difficulty? Well, it is
ancient history, and there is no harm in telling you what every one
knows, that in the bloom of her fresh young womanhood she had a sore
trial and a great sorrow."

"You say every one knows about it?" returned Malcolm eagerly.

"Yes, every one in Staplegrove and Earlsfield. Oh, I can read your
face; you would like to hear about it. Well, there is no harm in my
telling you. When Dinah Templeton was about three-or four-and-twenty
she was engaged to Douglas Fraser, a doctor just beginning practice in
Earlsfield."

"Mr. Templeton was living at that time, and approved of the engagement.
Dr. Eraser was devoted to his profession. He was a rising man, and
people predicted that before many years were over he would make his
mark."

"Douglas Fraser, the great authority on neurotic diseases in Harley
Street!" exclaimed Malcolm in a tone of intense surprise. Mrs. Godfrey
nodded.

"As a young man I have been told that he was perfectly irresistible.
Even now he is a grand