being ignored, and by this time she had made
up her mind that Malcolm could only have heard a fragment of their talk
in the woodlands, so she addressed him pointedly, and obliged him to
break off something he was saying to the elder lady.

"So you dined at the vicarage on Saturday, I hear. How dreadfully bored
you must have been! Mr. Charrington is an old dear, but he is rather a
prig. I mean"--transfixed by the sudden gleam in Malcolm's eyes--"I
mean, that is--that he is so learned."

"Oh, I am quite aware of your meaning, Miss Ross," returned Malcolm
quietly, "but I am rather an embryo prig myself." Then for the
remainder of the meal Tina was absolutely dumb.

CHAPTER XVII

"ADIEU--AU REVOIR"

If there is power in me to help,
It goeth forth beyond the present will,
Clothing itself in very common deeds
Of any humble day's necessity.
--MACDONALD.

The pleasantest part of the whole evening to Malcolm was the hour spent
on the terrace when the last guests were gone. The Brents had
undertaken to drive Mr. Carlyon to the White Cottage, much to the
chagrin of the Ross girls, whose homeward route took them through
Rotherwood, and who also had a seat to spare. Malcolm had a dim
suspicion that Elizabeth had connived at this arrangement.

"You had better go with the Brents if they ask you," she had said
earlier in the evening, but he had not heard Mr. Carlyon's reply.

"Well, what do you think of little Tina?" asked Elizabeth. They were
standing by the drawing-room window; Malcolm could see the mischievous
look in her eyes, and refused to be drawn.

"Most people would admire her," he returned coolly.

"But unfortunately you are the exception--is that what you mean, Mr.
Herrick? What a shame not to admire our pretty little blue-eyed kitten!"

"Kittens can scratch," he returned quietly; and then Elizabeth looked
more amused than ever.

"What, has Tina shown her claws to you? I thought she always wore her
velvet gloves for strangers. I fancied I was doing you a good turn to
introduce you to the prettiest girl in Rotherwood. She and Patty will
be rich too, for there is no son, and Mr. Ross is very wealthy."

"Made his fortune on the Stock Exchange," explained Cedric. "Clever old
chap--shouldn't mind if he would give me the straight tip. I tell you
what, Die," and here Cedric lit himself another cigarette, "if I come a
cropper in the exam, the Stock Exchang