.

"I cannot, David--indeed I cannot; you must not ask me to tell you
this." Elizabeth's voice quivered a little, but she was very much in
earnest.

"Must I not?" he returned with a smile. "Don't look so frightened,
sweetheart; perhaps there is no need to ask, perhaps I know all you are
trying to keep from me." And then in a low voice full of meaning, "So
Herrick has spoken at last."

"At last!" It was evident those two words had startled Elizabeth. David
with some difficulty suppressed an irresistible smile.

"Do you mean," he asked incredulously, "that you never noticed, what
every one else saw so plainly, that that poor fellow fairly worshipped
the ground you trod on?" Then again a painful flush came to Elizabeth's
face.

"I was not sure," she stammered, for her conscience did not wholly
acquit her--"I would not let myself see or notice things; besides, I
was thinking of you." Then David kissed the hands he held; but there
was a troubled look in his eyes.

"Poor beggar!" he muttered to himself. Then aloud, "Do you know, my
darling, what people will say when they hear you have thrown over a man
like Herrick for me--for a mere curate, with empty pockets and not too
many brains."

"Do you suppose I care what they say!" throwing her head back in rather
a regal fashion.

"They will say you are mad; and upon my word," and here David knit his
brows in a puzzled manner, "I am not sure that they will be wrong. Look
at the difference between us. Herrick is my superior in every way. I
used to shake in my shoes to hear him talk to the vicar. Elizabeth, my
heart aches for that poor fellow, but even you do not know what I have
suffered on his account all these weeks. There were times when I was
tempted to throw up the sponge."

"Oh, David, when you knew--when you must have known my feelings!"

"Yes, I knew; but there were days when my courage failed me, and I felt
I had no right to stand in your light. Dearest," and here he was
kneeling beside her with all a man's worship in his honest eyes, "you
are too good for me--do you think I do not know that it is your
goodness and generosity that make you stoop to me!" But Elizabeth laid
her hand upon his lips.

"Hush, you shall not talk so. It is I who am not worthy of you. I love
you, David--I love you, oh so dearly; that is enough for you--and me
too," and Elizabeth looked at him with an adorable smile. Then for a
little while Malcolm Herrick was forgotten.

CHAPT