ss as a
little child.

Over and over again she repeated dumbly Mr. Carlyon's words. How could
she doubt that David had spoken them when he had tried with loving
unselfishness to say them to her! Would she ever forget the tender
solemnity of his manner?--

"Elizabeth, life is long as you say, and your great loving heart must
not remain unsatisfied. Do not mourn for me too long--do not refuse
comfort that may be offered to you, if you can be happy, dear;" but she
had stopped him, and he could say no more. Truly, as his father had
said, "living or dying she had been his one thought." "Oh, how good you
were to me, David!" she whispered.

She rose and paced restlessly to and fro, while a bright-eyed robin
watched her from a hazel twig; for other words besides David's were
haunting her, and had been haunting her for two years, thought she had
vainly tried to forget them. Sometimes she would wake from sleep with
her heart beating, and those sad, reproachful words sounding in her
ears--

"I can never be your friend, Elizabeth." And again, "If either of you
want me, I will come if needs be from the ends of the earth." Would she
ever forget the look on his face as he said this!

She had told him then that she should miss him. In these two years she
had only seen him twice, and each time some strange embarrassment on
her part had seemed to estrange them still more. He was Dinah's friend,
not hers--from her he would have all or nothing. And yet, as time went
on, and that vast loneliness of life pressed on her more and more, and
her woman spirit seemed to wander through waste places seeking rest and
finding none, that silent, patient love, that seemed to enfold her from
a distance, began to appeal to her more strongly. "Why should another
life be spoiled?" Mr. Carlyon had said. "Ah, why indeed?" she murmured.

Then her mood changed; her face grew hot, and there was a pained look
in her eyes. "I have tried him too much," she thought; "there are
limits even to his patience. Last time I noticed a change: he is
growing weary--perhaps he has seen some one else;" and here she choked
down something like a sob and hurried on.

Dinah wondered what was amiss with her that evening; she seemed so
listless and silent, and took so little interest in the absorbing topic
of Cedric's engagement.

The young couple were to arrive the following afternoon, and Dinah had
arranged to drive to Earlsfield to meet them. As they sat down to
luncheo