ntly shaded by an awning and
prettily fitted up with flower-boxes and Indian matting and delightful
lounging-chairs. "She says we must call this our town house, but that
the Wood House must be our country house. She wants us to be there ail
the summer and autumn;" and here Elizabeth looked at Malcolm rather
wistfully.

"And you think that arrangement would suit you?" he asked with a smile;
but he knew her answer before hand.

"Oh, I should love to be with Die;" she replied earnestly. "Dear, do
you mean that you will consent? Think what it would mean to me. I shall
not be separated from Mr. Carlyon and my poor people; and I do so love
the country; and we should have our winter and spring in town."

"I think it will work excellently," returned Malcolm in a tone of such
conviction that Elizabeth's doubts vanished. "I can do my work as well
at Staplegrove as here, and I love the country too. As long as we are
together and you are happy, I shall be satisfied."

"Dearest, how good you are," she whispered, with one of her rare, shy
caresses. "Die has planned everything so beautifully. You know the
large end room we call our morning-room, that is to be your study. You
are to have all your own books and things. Die is going to fit it up;
she says it is to be her wedding present to you. The smaller room near
it is to be the morning-room."

"But you will not leave me alone in my study!" observed Malcolm in an
alarmed voice. "Your writing-table must be there too, Elizabeth. Do you
think I could bear you out of my sight?"

Elizabeth laughed and blushed, and called him a foolish, jealous boy;
but in her heart she loved to think that she was the delight of his
eyes, and that every day she grew dearer to him.

It was the evening before the wedding, and a quiet little house-party
had assembled at the Wood House--Mrs. Herrick and Anna, Colonel and
Mrs. Godfrey; and Malcolm, who had taken up his quarters at the "King's
Arms," had joined them at dinner. The wedding was to be at an early
hour the next morning, and no other guests were to be invited. Colonel
Godfrey would give the bride away, and the vicar and Mr. Carlyon would
perform the ceremony between them. Anna would be the solitary
bridesmaid.

The sunset clouds were fading behind the little fir wood when Elizabeth
and Malcolm came out on the terrace. Elizabeth had been a little grave
and thoughtful during dinner, and Malcolm, who could read her
perfectly, knew that she was