achful look when Malcolm said this. Malcolm only
waited to hear how they liked the rooms he had taken before he went
back to his hotel; but at their earnest request he promised to have
breakfast with them the following morning, and also to take a later
train, that they might have time for a good talk.

He kept his appointment punctually, and the conversation of course
turned first on Cedric, but Malcolm was somewhat reticent on the
subject of that stormy interview in Cheyne Walk.

"One must make allowances under such circumstances, and he was hardly
himself that night," was all he said, but they fully understood him.

"Do you think he will get over it?" asked Dinah anxiously.

"Oh yes, he will get over it--he is so young;" but Malcolm avoided
Elizabeth's eyes as he spoke; "youth has immense advantages. But you
must give him time. If you will take my advice, dear Miss Templeton,
you will not watch him too closely, or trouble if you find him a little
altered, and not quite the old Cedric. He will come right by-and-by."

"Oh, if I could believe that," wistfully.

"You must make yourself believe it. Of course he will give you plenty
of trouble at first. He will have his bad days, and try to make you as
miserable as he is himself, but you must prepare yourself for that.
Think what a boon it will be to him to turn in here and find some one
ready to listen to his jeremiad." Then Dinah smiled faintly.

"I hope you intend to remain with your sister," he continued, turning
rather abruptly to Elizabeth. She coloured and hesitated.

"I am afraid I can only remain a week, but I shall come down again
later on. You need not fear that Dinah will be dull, Mr. Herrick; if
she can only be sure of seeing her boy for an hour in the day, she will
be perfectly happy. I always tell her that she is cut out for a hermit,
she loves her own company so much. I am far more gregarious in my
tastes--the society of my fellow-creatures is absolutely necessary to
me."

Malcolm was quite aware of this, but he listened gravely. "I hope you
mean to let me know your opinion of Leah Jacobi before I go," he
observed presently. To his surprise she gave an embarrassed laugh.

"I have been dreading that question all breakfast time; I am so afraid
I shall shock you. It is wicked of me, of course, but indeed I am only
too ready to sympathise with poor old Cedric, for I have fallen in love
with her myself."

"Do you know, I am not at all surprised to hea