America, and has
promised to keep an eye on Saul Jacobi. He was quite confidential with
Leah."

"He is rather intimate with them," returned Malcolm; "indeed, I believe
he is in love with the fair Rebekah himself"--for he had never
forgotten Elizabeth's name for her. "Hugh Rossiter is a fine fellow,
and would suit her a hundred times better than poor old Cedric. Oh
well, he is too cunning a hunter to make a false shot, but I have a
notion that he will try again some day;" and then Cedric came out and
joined them, and they walked back to the lodgings.

Malcolm was going back to town that evening, and when Cedric had left
them Dinah talked a little about her future plans.

"Cedric is so much better," she said, "that I think I can go home next
week. He will follow me in another fortnight, and I do not like leaving
Elizabeth so long alone."

"I think you told me that she was worried about Mr. Carlyon?" returned
Malcolm with manifest effort.

"Yes, indeed, and she may well be," replied Dinah with a sigh. "Young
men are so reckless and imprudent--at least David is. Just think of his
madness, Mr. Herrick. He is not strong, and he takes cold more easily
than other people. He got very wet taking a funeral for a clergyman at
Dinglefield, and when he reached home, instead of changing his clothes,
he went a mile farther to baptize a dying child. He was soaking by the
time he got back, and a bad feverish cold set in. Elizabeth insisted
that Dr. Randolph should see him; and she wrote to Theo herself, but I
fancy from her letters that she rather repented of sending for her; but
poultices were needed, and Mrs. Pratt, his landlady, is simply an
impossible woman. However, things have worked so badly between them
that Theo has gone back to Stokeley, and Elizabeth declares that even
her brother is thankful to be rid of her. But he is better now."

"He is up and about again, but he doesn't lose his cough, and I can see
Elizabeth is anxious. You look surprised, but I assure you my sister
has some reason for her fears. David's mother was consumptive, and two
of his sisters died young of the same complaint. Theo is the only
robust one, and David knows well that he ought to take care. Mr.
Carlyon is always worrying about him."

Malcolm tried to express his sympathy properly, but he felt he
acquitted himself badly. Was this the reason, he wondered, why
Elizabeth had looked so grave? but he thought it wiser not to dwell on
the subject.