for my candid opinion and I gave
it to you. It is a poor compliment to flatter people--far too poor ever
to be paid by me to you; and in this case the simple truth is a far
greater compliment than any flattery could be. You can imagine what a
high estimate I have formed of your powers, when so great a picture as
The Pillar of Cloud fails to satisfy me."

The talk about her picture brought to Elisabeth's mind the remembrance
of that other picture which had been almost as popular as hers; and,
with it, the remembrance of the man who had painted it.

"I suppose you have heard nothing more about George Farringdon's son,"
she remarked, with apparent irrelevance. "I wonder if he will ever turn
up?"

"Oh! I hardly think it is likely now; I have quite given up all ideas of
his doing so," replied Christopher cheerfully.

"But supposing he did?"

"In that case I am afraid he would be bound to enter into his kingdom.
But I really don't think you need worry any longer over that unpleasant
contingency, Miss Farringdon; it is too late in the day; if he were
going to appear upon the scene at all, he would have appeared before
now, I feel certain."

"You really think so?"

"Most assuredly I do. Besides, it will not be long before the limit of
time mentioned by your cousin is reached; and then a score of George
Farringdon's sons could not turn you out of your rights."

For a moment Elisabeth thought she would tell Christopher about her
suspicions as to the identity of Cecil Farquhar. But it was as yet
merely a suspicion, and she knew by experience how ruthlessly
Christopher pursued the line of duty whenever that line was pointed out
to him; so she decided to hold her peace (and her property) a little
longer. But she also knew that the influence of Christopher was even yet
so strong upon her, that, when the time came, she should do the right
thing in spite of herself and in defiance of her own desires. And this
knowledge, strange to say, irritated her still further against the
innocent and unconscious Christopher.

The walk from the Moat House to Sedgehill was a failure as far as the
re-establishment of friendly relations between Christopher and Elisabeth
was concerned, for it left her with the impression that he was less
appreciative of her and more wrapped up in himself and his own opinions
than ever; while it conveyed to his mind the idea that her success had
only served to widen the gulf between them, and that she was more