l of them;" and Malcolm was so elated by these encomiums on
his friends, and by Elizabeth's gracious friendliness, that he actually
suggested that she should walk down the drive with them; but to his
secret chagrin she made some excuse.

Half an hour later she entered her sister's room. Dinah was reading as
usual, with her little green lamp beside her; but she closed her book
and looked up at her inquiringly.

"What is it, Betty?" she said gently. "Something has been troubling you
to-night." Then Elizabeth turned aside her face for a moment, but she
was not regarding herself in the great mirror. "It concerns David,"
continued Dinah calmly. Then Elizabeth gave vent to a heavy sigh.

"Yes, it concerns David," she returned. "I have been talking to him, oh
so seriously, and to his father too; but it is no use. They will let me
do nothing to help them. I wanted to send in a night nurse, but they
will have it that it is not necessary. Old Mrs. Roper takes care of the
patient by day, and it is only the night."

"But, Betty dear, surely David Carlyon is not going there again
to-night?"

"Indeed he is," very sadly. "I heard them arranging it this afternoon.
Mr. Carlyon is to relieve him at three. He was so tired that he could
scarcely eat his dinner, and he told me that he dared not stay for the
music, as I should certainly sing him to sleep. Die," in rather a
choked voice, "it is not right. He will kill himself if he goes on like
this."

It was evident that Elizabeth was in a depressed mood; perhaps she was
tired too. Dinah, who knew her well, quite understood her.

"Don't worry, Betty," she said kindly. "David Carlyon is young enough
and strong enough to bear the loss of a few nights' rest, and the fever
is not infectious. By all accounts the poor fellow cannot last many
days. Tomorrow I will go over to the White Cottage and talk to them
both. I shall tell David that he has no right to let his father work so
hard during his holiday."

"Tell him we know such a nice woman, Die," and Dinah promised that she
would do her very best. But Elizabeth had not wholly eased her mind;
she stood looking at her sister rather doubtfully, and then she said
abruptly--

"Die, there is something I want to ask you. You heard from Douglas
Fraser this morning, did you not?" Then a faint colour came to Dinah's
pale cheeks.

"Were you afraid to ask me that before, my dear?" she said with a
smile. "But it was my fault; I ought to have told