orry," she stammered, "but she had promised to go to
Rotherwood."

"Why, we are all going there after luncheon!" exclaimed Cedric.
"Herrick wants to call at the vicarage, so we can leave him there, and
you can go on to Rowan Cottage."

But again Elizabeth hesitated. "It was a great pity," she returned
hurriedly, "but Mr. Carlyon and Theo were going to Earlsfield in the
afternoon, and she wanted to see Theo particularly about the new
school-books that they were to order at Thornton's. Theo makes such
mistakes," she went on: "the last batch was all wrong and had to be
sent back;" and though Cedric argued with her, and Anna put in a
persuasive word or two, Elizabeth was firm. The afternoon would not do.
She was very sorry to be so unsociable; but it could not be helped--she
must go alone.

All this time Malcolm had said no word. Perhaps if he had, Elizabeth
might have been induced to reconsider her decision. The fact was, she
was getting sore as well as unhappy. "If he had wanted me, he would
have asked me to accompany them," she said to herself, never dreaming
that her brusque, decided manner made any such invitation on his part a
sheer impossibility.

So Elizabeth had her way, and spent a long pottering morning in the
schools and in going over accounts with Theo. More than once she put
back her hair from her hot forehead with a gesture of weariness. How
lovely the valley would look! she thought. How dark the shadows of the
firs would lie! while golden shafts of sunlight would penetrate between
the slender stems! She knew where they would be sitting--on a shady
knoll overlooking the Dale farm and the range of hillside beyond. They
would be talking to him about the Priory, and their future life, and
all their hopes and fears; and he would be listening to them with that
kind smile she knew so well on his lips.

"What is the matter with you, Elizabeth?" cried Theo rather pettishly;
"do you know, you have added up all those figures wrongly?"

"Have I, dear? I am so sorry;" and Elizabeth, with a tired little sigh,
worked her way up the column again. When she had entered the sum-total,
she took up her hat.

"Surely you will wait for father," observed Theo, rather surprised at
this unusual haste; "you know he promised us that he would be back soon
after twelve."

"Yes, I know; but we have a guest staying with us, and I ought not to
absent myself too long. I have seen Mr. Carlyon already and he will
understand. Please