d Malcolm smiling. "The Jacobis of this life are not so easily
shaken off. Like the horse-leech's daughters, they cry 'Give, give.' I
should not be the least surprised if a series of begging letters with
the New York postmark reached Cedric at due intervals."

"Oh, Mr. Herrick, what shall we do?"

"Do--why, put them in the fire unread. That will be my advice to
Cedric. I know exactly the sort of letters that fellow will write. The
first one will be jocular and friendly, and the business part will be
in the postscript; the second will be pathetic and somewhat
reproachful, and the demands more urgent; finally, if money is not
forthcoming, he will bluster and threaten and make himself exceedingly
unpleasant. Cedric must simply have no dealings with him; and above all
things, he must take no notice of his letters."

"I hope you will tell Cedric this." And Malcolm promised that he would
speak to him very plainly.

But Cedric was not the docile pupil of old. The lad's sweet disposition
and milk of human kindness had soured under the sudden shock of his
trouble; the loss of his sweetheart and the consciousness of his own
misconduct filled him with bitterness, and made him at times very
irritable. Dinah's gentleness suited him better than Malcolm's bracing
counsels, and her exceeding patience with him in his fits of
despondency sometimes roused him to penitence.

By Malcolm's advice she had told him in guarded terms that Leah was
well, and with friends who intended to take her abroad; but no
entreaties on Cedric's part could induce her to reveal the names of
Leah's protectors, or how she had received the information. Cedric
complained bitterly to Malcolm that they were all treating him like a
child.

"Not at all, my dear fellow," was Malcolm's answer; "it is by Miss
Jacobi's wish that we keep silence. The lady who has engaged her as a
companion is a stranger to all of us, but I believe she is a very
kind-hearted woman, and that Miss Jacobi will be very comfortable with
her."

"Comfortable--a companion--my beautiful Leah!"

But the pain was too great, and Cedric burst into tears. After all, he
was little more than a boy, and Malcolm remembered this and was patient.

On Sunday afternoon, as they were coming out of chapel, Dinah said
suddenly, "I quite forgot to tell you that Mr. Rossiter has been at the
Manor House again, and has seen Leah, and quite approves of the
arrangement with Mrs. Richardson. He is going back to