eth broke in again.

"You are wrong there, Die; Mr. Carlyon never goes out on Saturday
evenings. It is his day for writing his sermon, and I have never known
him break his rule. Mr. Charrington wishes to have Mr. Herrick to
himself. He," with another smile, "knows two are company and three are
none. Well, good people, I must not dawdle this morning, as there is so
much to do;" and as Elizabeth rose from the table she gave her sister a
meaning glance, and Dinah, who was like wax in Elizabeth's hands, took
the hint at once.

"We are so glad you have made up your mind to stay until Tuesday," she
said cordially, "for we are asking some people to come over for tennis
on Monday after-noon. Elizabeth has gone off to write the notes now."

"Why on earth could she not have said so?" thought Malcolm, with secret
irritation. But Dinah went on cheerfully--

"It will be only an informal affair; there is no time to arrange a
regular garden-party. We will keep that until you take up your quarters
at the Crow's Nest. We generally have one big affair before the summer
is over, and then our friends come down from town, and we have to
commandeer all the carriages in the place to meet the train. Elizabeth
calls it 'The Templeton's Bean-feast.'"

"Yes, I see," and Malcolm forced a smile at the little joke.

"This will be a very different function," continued Dinah. "We are only
asking about five-and-twenty people. We shall have tea in the hall--it
is the coolest place in this weather--and there will be two or three
sets of tennis, and croquet for those who like it. It was all
Elizabeth's plan. You have no idea what a talent she has for
organisation--she almost takes my breath away some-times. She planned
everything last night and had the list ready for me when I went to bid
her good-night."

"That accounts for the light in the Red Gallery when Cedric and I came
in," remarked Malcolm.

"Yes, we were dreadfully late; but Elizabeth was so wide--awake that I
was quite ashamed of my own drowsiness. I think we shall get a pleasant
party together."

And as Cedric came in at that moment, Dinah retailed their little plan
for his benefit. Cedric was delighted, and voted Betty a brick. Any
form of sociability was welcome to him--an impromptu garden-party in
Malcolm's honour met with his decided approval.

"David must give us our revenge," he said, chuckling with glee at the
idea. But Malcolm did not respond to this.

He felt inwardly pro