a.

But when they talked it over quietly they found an amendment was
necessary. It would be impossible to go and return the same day; there
was the farm to inspect, and most likely they would have to consult the
lawyer. The matter ended by Cedric volunteering to go back with Malcolm
when he returned to town, and talk the matter over with Harry
Strickland; and if any decent lodgings could be found in the little
town of Donnarton, they would stop at least one night.

As early a day as possible was to be fixed, and all the arrangements
were to be made by the gentlemen. Dinah was evidently charmed with the
prospect of seeing the Priory; but Elizabeth's ardour quickly cooled
when she found it would be necessary to remain the night. "I suppose
you could not go without me, Die?" she observed when alone with her
sister. Then Dinah's face fell.

"Oh, Betty dear, that would spoil everything," she said in a distressed
tone. "Surely you want to see dear Cedric's future home."

"Of course I want to see it," returned Elizabeth rather shortly; "only
I should have preferred going down quietly a little later on"--which
was somewhat contradictory, as she had herself proposed the plan. But
perhaps the delighted look on Malcolm's face when he heard her
proposition had somewhat alarmed her; for the next day she was a little
cool and distant in her manner to him, and left his entertainment to
Dinah and Cedric.

CHAPTER XLI

"YOU CAN BE DINAH'S FRIEND"

Sometimes I said: This thing shall be no more;
My expectation wearies and shall cease;
I will resign it now and be at peace:
Yet never gave it o'er.
--CHRISTINA ROSSETTI.

Various complications prevented the Templeton-Strickland picnic, as
Cedric termed it, from being speedily carried out, and it was not until
the middle of May that a day was definitely fixed, and Cedric brought
his sisters up to Waterloo, where Malcolm and Mr. Strickland met them.
The whole party were to be housed at the Priory, where they were to
sleep two nights. There were plenty of good bedrooms, Harry Strickland
told them, and in a rough, homely fashion he could undertake that they
should be comfortable. He had already been down to the Priory to look
after things, and to tell Mrs. Renshaw that she must find some
temporary help. He would have brought down a hamper of delicacies from
Fortnum and Mason, but Cedric remonstrated with him and said his
siste