hed for her.

During their short walk to the Manor House he kept silence; he was
wondering what he should say to Mrs. Godfrey, and how he could best
explain matters. But just as they turned into the drive he saw her
coming round from the garden with a basket of late blowing flowers in
her hand; she stood still as though petrified with astonishment when
she saw Malcolm's companion.

"What is it--what does it mean?" she asked in her clear voice. "Has
anything happened?"

"Much has happened, my dear lady," he returned quietly. "I am going to
confide Miss Jacobi to your care for a few days;" and then very briefly
but distinctly he gave her an account of Saul Jacobi's scheme--the
intended marriage and Cedric's arrival at Gresham Gardens. "But for
Miss Jacobi's noble behaviour," he continued, "this disgraceful plot
would have been carried out. She has generously given him up, and I for
one am deeply indebted to her."

"Will you hide me for a few days, until I know what to do?" asked Leah,
fixing her great troubled eyes on the other woman's face. Mrs.
Godfrey's manner changed.

"Hide you from your brother do you mean, or Cedric, or both? My dear,
you will be perfectly safe with us. No one will molest you at the Manor
House, and we will both do all we can for you." She took the girl's
hand kindly and kissed her cheek. "We will have such a talk
presently--you and I; but just now you are worn out, and must lie down.
Your head aches, does it not?" Then Leah owned that she was right.

"Alick is about the grounds somewhere," Mrs. Godfrey continued; "when I
have made Miss Jacobi comfortable I will join you both." But when she
rejoined them half an hour later, Malcolm was quite sure she had been
shedding tears. "Poor thing," she said to him in an undertone, "how she
must have suffered; she is terribly exhausted, she has had no sleep,
and has eaten nothing for four-and-twenty hours. I made her swallow
some warm brandy and milk, and have covered her up snugly. Now I mean
to send the servant away at luncheon, and we will wait on ourselves,
and then you can tell us everything."

"You must promise not to interrupt me then," was Malcolm's answer, "for
I shall have to be off in an hour or so. I mean to go down to
Staplegrove by a late afternoon train, and tell Miss Templeton all we
have done."

Malcolm certainly had the art of narration. Not only Mrs. Godfrey but
the Colonel hung on his words with the deepest attention. Neither did