e Wallaces are nice people, and in our cramped quarters the Hall was
rather a find. Sir Richard and my husband took to each other, and Lady
Wallace and I followed suit."

"That must have been a pleasant sort of arrangement," observed Malcolm.

"I liked the girls too, they were so honestly, frankly ugly; and they
were so good-natured, and so delightfully aware of their shortcomings,
that they were quite refreshing. Fancy Martha, the eldest girl, saying
to me seriously, 'Dick is the only one who takes after mother and
father; he is really nice-looking, you know, but Ailie and I are a
couple of squat little toads. Now, please don't laugh, Mrs. Godfrey,'
she went on, 'for we are very fond of toads, and they have such bright,
projecting eyes.' What on earth could I say! for indeed poor Martha is
almost grotesque-looking, and yet one can't help loving her. I know I
had a fit of laughing, and both of them laughed with me."

"Cedric always said they were good sort of girls."

"Cedric--oh, he is their hero. By the bye, Mr. Herrick, did you know
the Jacobis were staying a mile and a half from Fettercairn? Ah I
thought so"--as Malcolm started and frowned--"I was sure that bad boy
never let any of you know."

"Were they there all the time?"

"Yes, they all travelled together. Mr. Jacobi had taken the cottage
they call Shepherd's Hut, because at one time Sir Richard's shepherd
lived there; but a room or two has been added, and people take it for
the fishing. Alick rather thought of it himself, only the rooms are so
small, and one of the chimneys smoked; we were far more comfortable at
the shooting-lodge."

"I suppose Miss Jacobi was there too?"

"Of course she was there," in a significant tone, "and Cedric and Dick
Wallace spent most of their time with them. I believe they fished, and
wandered over the moors, and when they were not at Shepherd's Hut the
Jacobis were at the Hall. Mr. Herrick, I am afraid--I am really afraid
that that foolish boy Cedric is head over ears in love with Leah
Jacobi."

"It looks rather shady," acknowledged Malcolm; "he is not the sort of
fellow to keep things to himself." Then with a sudden change of
tone--"Did you tell his sisters?"

"I just mentioned the fact of their being there; and then Elizabeth's
engagement occupied my attention. Young Dick was half in love too. Miss
Jacobi is really very handsome, but, as Alick says, she ought to marry
a man at least ten years older."

"My dear lady,