ased with him the
previous afternoon; her liking for him had deepened, and she had felt a
genuine desire for his friendship. In her secret heart she knew how
well he had behaved, and was grateful to him for his delicacy and tact;
but at this moment she felt as though she had received a douche of cold
water. "That is not until August, and it is only May now," she repeated
rather seriously.

"Yes, I know"--but here Malcolm lost his self-command. Perhaps the May
sunshine dazzled him, or the soft friendliness in Elizabeth's eyes and
that unvarying kindliness tried his endurance, but for once the
underlying bitterness found vent.

"I cannot come before I go abroad--you, of all people, ought not to
expect it! You must know how I feel--that it is not good for me! When I
am with you, I can scarcely endure my pain!" He spoke harshly, almost
flinging the words at her; but she answered him quite humbly.

"Forgive me, I did not want to hurt you," in a trembling voice--"I did
not understand."

"No, you have never understood," but there was no conciliation in his
tone; "you make things harder for me. Elizabeth, I ought not to have
said this, but the happiness of these two days has been too much for
me. I will keep away until I have regained mastery over myself, and
then I will come. If you want me--if there be anything that I can do
for you or your sister, you must send for me."

"I could not do that," she returned, averting her face, and showers of
white petals powdered the ground at her feet, as her nervous fingers
unconsciously stript the stalks--"you have made that impossible," And
then she continued impulsively, "Mr. Herrick, you must believe how
sorry I am. You have been such a friend--such a true, kind friend, and
I have been so grateful to you!"

"I can never be your friend, Elizabeth"--there was a sad finality about
Malcolm's tone that made Elizabeth shrink from him almost timidly.

"Can you not?" she returned with a little sob. "But you can be Dinah's
friend. Do not let her suffer because of this; if we are both unhappy,
there is no need that she should be, and you are one of her greatest
comforts."

"You are right," replied Malcolm more gently, "and I shall always be at
Miss Templeton's service. I know you tell her everything, will you let
her know this?--when she wants me, when either of you want me, I will
come if needs be from the ends of the earth. You will believe this?"

"I always believe Dinah's friend,"