one idea is to have the
marriage ceremony performed before Miss Templeton knows of it."

"Ah, just so;" but Malcolm muttered "the villain!" between his teeth.

"That is why I sent for you," continued Leah in the same dull, inward
voice; "because he and Cedric have fixed it for to-morrow, and there is
no time to lose. If he comes, and I were to see him again," and here
her voice broke and her eyes grew piteous, "I should not have the
strength to do it--to do what you want."

"What I want?" And then he added breathlessly, "Do you mean that you
will give him up?"

"Yes, I mean that," in a choked voice. "I must give him up--the only
creature I ever loved, and who was good to me. All night long I was
thinking of it, fighting and struggling for my poor little bit of
happiness; but you were right, Mr. Herrick, I love him too well to drag
him down to poverty and ruin, for Saul would ruin him, I know that too
well."

"I know it too. God bless you for this noble resolve," returned Malcolm
quickly; but she stopped him.

"Hush! not a word of praise; you do not know--I have been to blame as
well as Saul. But now what am I to do? they must not find me here."

"No, of course not. Is there any friend to whom I could take you?" But
Leah shook her head.

"We have no friends, only a few acquaintances at Henley; but I could
not go to them. I might take a lodging somewhere, only"--here her poor
face grew crimson--"Saul never gives me any money, except a few
shillings at a time; he pays my bills or leaves them unpaid, but it
always makes him angry when I ask him for money."

"That need be no difficulty," returned Malcolm kindly. "Will you allow
me to settle things for you?" Then she looked at him inquiringly, yet
with an air of trust that moved him profoundly.

"Will you put on your walking things at once, while I make my plans?"
he went on. "Be as quick as possible; we must not lose time." And she
went off with the ready obedience of a child.

Malcolm hastily reviewed the situation. It was full of difficulties.
Where could he take her? He thought of his mother; then he remembered
that she was a woman of strong prejudices--she had her own opinions and
would decline to see with other people's eyes. Leah would be to her
merely an extremely dangerous and objectionable young woman, and she
would dislike the idea of Anna being brought into contact with her.

The Kestons would help him, he knew that, and Verity would be a trusty
and