"Dinah has arranged it then," with rather an inscrutable little smile.
"Thank you, it will be very kind, and I know it will be a relief to her
mind." But she added hastily, "There is no use in our going round by
Rotherwood. We can post Mr. Carlyon's note. If there is time we might
go on the Downs--you will like that much better," and then Elizabeth
gave him a friendly little nod.

Malcolm enjoyed his afternoon. Brown Becky was in excellent form, and
it gave him a great deal of pleasure to drive her; and then Elizabeth
was so sociable and so altogether charming. He had glanced more than
once at the paper she held in her hands. "Are you going to order all
these things?" he asked, and she had laughed in his face.

"Five-and-twenty to thirty people to entertain is rather a large order.
We have plenty of cider and fruit, and of course there will be claret
cup, but we have no time to make cakes--besides, there must be a cold
collation for at least a dozen."

"Oh yes, I understand," he returned good-humouredly; but he was
secretly surprised by the quickness with which her commissions were
executed. Evidently the ladies of the Wood House were people of
consideration to the tradesmen of Earlsfield, for obsequious shopmen
stood bowing and smiling on the threshold; and was it his fancy, or was
there an added stateliness in the second Miss Templeton's step and
carriage as she threaded the pretty little market-place, exchanging
greetings with every other person she met?

"Now I have finished," she observed presently, "and you and Brown Becky
have behaved like a couple of angels." Then she chanted merrily, "Oh,
who will o'er the downs with me?" and Malcolm turned the mare's head in
the direction she pointed out.

It had been very hot in the market-place, but when they had gained the
open down a honey-sweet wind blew refreshingly in their faces, and not
only the moorland but the roadside was clothed with the purpling
heather. Malcolm checked the mare involuntarily, and sat silently
feasting his eyes on the glorious colouring before him. "No Tyrian
garment could equal that," he said half to himself.

Elizabeth looked at him curiously.

"I thought you would like it," she returned, well pleased by his rapt
admiration of her favourite view.

"Like it! I only wish I had Keston here; but if I am a living man I
will bring him and Verity too. What a grand old world it is after all,
Miss Templeton, though we do our best to spoil i