man; and he is gentlemanly too--both the
Carlyons are that; but," very decidedly, "he is not good enough for
Elizabeth."

Malcolm agreed with every word, but he dared not trust himself to say
so; he waited a moment, and then said quietly--

"It seems that Miss Templeton holds a different opinion; she appears
quite satisfied with her choice."

"Satisfied"--and here Mrs. Godfrey gave a little laugh. "To judge from
her letters--and we have been corresponding pretty freely lately--one
would think she was a girl in her teens; she is absurdly happy--even
Dinah says so. But between you and me I don't believe Dinah is a bit
better pleased than the rest of us."

"What does the Colonel think?" asked Malcolm, feeling as though he
ought to say something.

"Oh, Alick always agrees with me, though he expresses his ideas rather
differently. He took quite a fancy to Mr. Carlyon, and they were always
together last spring; so of course he will not say much--only he will
have it that he is not big enough or strong enough for Elizabeth. 'She
will master him, and make him look small,' that was what Alick said.
They are not to be married until Easter, I hear, and Dinah wishes them
to live at the Wood House."

Malcolm had never felt anything like the sudden throb of pain that shot
through him when Mrs. Godfrey said this; he grew so pale that she rose
hastily, thinking the room was too hot for him.

"Shall we go downstairs?" she said kindly; "the atmosphere of this
place is quite suffocating." And Malcolm agreed to this; he was just
thinking that he would make some excuse to leave her, when to his
chagrin she led the way to the little waiting-place by the entrance,
and, seating herself, beckoned to him to follow her example. "There is
something I ought to tell you," she said rather seriously; "it is nice
and quiet here, and there is plenty of fresh air. You are not looking
the thing, Mr. Herrick; you are thinner--much thinner; I am afraid you
have been working too hard."

"Oh, no, I cannot lay that flattering unction to my soul," he returned.
"Is this what you have to tell me? for in that case I must remark that
I have about a ton of stationery on my mind."

"No, do be quiet a moment," and her faultlessly gloved hand rested on
his arm. "There is really something I want to say. You know we saw
Cedric when he was staying at Fettercairn?" Malcolm's forced rigidity
relaxed.

"Oh, yes, Cedric told me that in one of his letters."

"Th