nd beautiful? Next Thursday Elizabeth is going to
Stokeley with Mr. Carlyon. He is better, but still very weak and
ailing, and she dare not leave him to Theo. When I am alone, will you
come down for a night? it would be such a comfort to talk to so kind a
friend." And then when Malcolm read this he made up his mind that he
would go to the Wood House as soon as Elizabeth had left for Stokeley.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

TANGLED THREADS

God has furnished us with constant occasions of bearing
one another's burdens. For there is no man living
without his failings, no man that is so happy as never
to give offence, no man without his load of trouble.

A loving heart is the great requirement.
--Teaching of Buddha.

Cedric had spent the Easter vacation with Malcolm at Cheyne Walk.
Malcolm had previously sounded Dinah before he gave the invitation, and
found that she fully appreciated the thoughtfulness that prompted it.
"It is so like your usual kindness, dear friend," she wrote. "You felt,
as we do, that the Wood House would be too quiet and dull just now for
Cedric. It is so much better for him to be with you. Indeed, I shall
not mind being alone; and when Cedric goes back to Oxford you will run
down to see me as you promised."

Malcolm was relieved to find a great improvement in Cedric. Though his
love-affair had ended so disastrously, he had achieved his pet
ambition, and had been in the winning boat in the Oxford and Cambridge
boat-race. The excitement and months of training had done him good
morally and physically, and though he was still depressed and
melancholy, and had by no means forgotten Leah, he showed greater
manliness and self-control, and Malcolm's influence was again in the
ascendant.

Malcolm took him to Queen's Gate and introduced him to his mother and
Anna. He had previously acquainted his mother with the story of his
unfortunate infatuation for Leah Jacobi. To his surprise she was deeply
interested, and begged to be allowed to tell Anna.

"Anna cares so much more for unhappy people," she said. "You will see
how kind she will be to the poor fellow."

In her way Mrs. Herrick was kind too. Malcolm, who knew young men were
seldom welcome at 27 Queen's Gate, was secretly amazed at the
graciousness with which Cedric was received.

Mrs. Herrick's stoicism was not proof against the lad's handsome face
and deep melancholy. Her manner softened and grew quite motherly; and