ing a
moment--" that I like to be quiet on my birthday."

"He looked so dull," returned Dinah apologetically; "I think we
depressed him. I am very sorry, dear; I ought to have found out your
wishes first. But he will not stay long unless we ask him." Elizabeth
made no answer to this; she looked thoughtful and a little troubled,
and Dinah felt she had done the wrong thing. But this afternoon
Elizabeth was in her old sunshiny mood, and she made her little speech
about being an old maid in a way that charmed Malcolm.

How still it was down by the Pool! Only a dry leaf dropping into the
water, or the sleepy snapping of one of the dogs at the midges, or the
faint twitter of a far-off bird broke the silence. The air was sweet
with the warm, resinous smell of the firs; the strong perfume seemed to
pervade his senses.

He was alone with her--not a human creature was near them; and he was
so close that if he had stretched out his hand he could have touched
her dress. Malcolm's heart began beating dangerously, and there was a
curious throbbing at his temples; when he tried to speak his voice was
thick and indistinct; then with a great effort he steadied himself, for
his time had come and he knew it.

"There is something I want to say to you--that for weeks I have been
trying to say--will you let me speak now?" Did he really say those
words, or did he whisper them inwardly? But no, he could see the sudden
startled look in Elizabeth's eyes when she saw his face.

"May I speak?"

"No--no," in a frightened tone. "Mr. Herrick, for my sake--for both our
sakes--I implore you to be silent; I cannot--I will not listen"--her
agitation increasing with every word. But she might as well have tried
to control the wind.

"You cannot mean that," he returned gently but firmly; "forgive me if I
do not obey you--if it is not possible for me to keep silence any
longer. Elizabeth, surely all these weeks you must have known that you
were the one woman in the world for me?"

"No--no," she returned, covering her face with her hands, "I never knew
it; how could I--how could I?" But he mistook the cause of her emotion.

"I think no woman was ever loved so well! All these weeks that I have
been dumb, I have been living for you--only for you." Then she put up
her trembling hand to stop him, but he caught it in his own.

"Elizabeth, will you try to love me a little?"

"Hush--hush," endeavouring to free herself. "Indeed--indeed you must
not say