y, as though she understood this
unspoken speech; and when she spoke again it was with a new and added
friendliness.

"You are a good judge of character, Mr. Herrick, and I feel I can rely
on your opinion. If only the Godfreys were at the Manor House!"

"You forget that Beechcroft is at Henley," he observed with a smile.
"Oh no, I have not forgotten, but I was thinking that I might have gone
down to spy out the land for myself. Of course it would have vexed
Cedric, but I should have done it all the same. Well, there is nothing
for it but patience. By the bye, Mr. Herrick, we have fixed the date of
the Templeton Bean-feast; Cedric will have to come back for that."

"Do you think he would care to bring his friends?" he asked in rather a
meaning tone. Then at this daring suggestion Elizabeth's eyes opened
widely. "Do you think that would be wise, that it might not complicate
matters and increase the intimacy?" Elizabeth put this question with
manifest anxiety. "We have no desire to have the Jacobis on our
visiting-list."

"Of course not," was Malcolm's answer, "you know I never meant that;
but it would give you and Miss Templeton an opportunity of studying
them, and it could be managed without difficulty."

"I wish you would tell me how. I suppose we should have to send Miss
Jacobi a card of invitation?"

"No, I think not--at least not at first. Tell Cedric that he may have
carte blanche for his friends, and leave him to follow up the hint. He
will answer by return, and tell you that he has asked the Jacobis, and
then the card can be sent."

"Yes, I see; it is a good idea. I will talk to Dinah, but thank you all
the same for your suggestion. I am quite ashamed of bothering you about
our concerns; I fear we trespass on your good-nature."

"Not at all," returned Malcolm easily. "I was going to ask your advice
about a little protegee of my own;" and then Elizabeth lent a willing
ear while Malcolm, in his best style, told the story of little Kit.

They had turned in at the gate of the Wood House by this time, and the
dark firs stretched on either side. Elizabeth had taken off her
sun-bonnet, and it dangled from her arm; her eyes were soft with
womanly sympathy; never had the charm of her personality appealed so
strongly to Malcolm, he scarcely dared to look at her for fear she
should discover the truth. "It is too soon, she would not believe it,"
he said to himself. But as he talked his voice was strangely vibrant
a