Betty dear," as she
saw her sister's astonished face, "I am perfectly serious. You know
what Cedric is to me"--and here her sweet voice quavered for a
moment--"if it would do him good, I would give him half my fortune at
this moment, and would never grudge it; but no money of mine shall be
used for his undoing. Let him give up this woman and come back to me,
and there is nothing I will not do for him. Am I right, Elizabeth? Do
you agree with me?"

"I agree with you, and you are always right, darling. Mr. Herrick, will
you do as she says, and make this Leah understand that she has nothing
to expect from us. Oh, what trouble we are giving you, and we have no
right!" and here Elizabeth turned her head away in pained confusion.
She had said the wrong thing. Why did not Dinah come to her assistance
and say some word of grateful acknowledgment?

"You have every right to use me as you will," returned Malcolm in a low
voice, "for I have done nothing to forfeit your friendship." And with a
dreary attempt at a smile--"A friend is born for adversity." Then
Elizabeth rose from her kneeling position, but she did not
answer--perhaps she could not, for Malcolm's worn face and sad, kind
eyes seemed to bring a sudden lump to her throat. How good he was--how
generous and forgiving and unselfish! She longed to take his hand and
bid God bless him; but she could not trust herself or him. "It has gone
too deep," she said with inward wonder, for Elizabeth was truly humble
in her estimation of herself. Dinah was too much wrapped up in her own
troubled thoughts to notice Elizabeth's emotion.

"Will you tell me what you mean to do?" she asked anxiously, for
Malcolm had risen too as though he intended to take his leave. He
explained briefly that he intended to act on Hugh Rossiter's
suggestion. He would waylay Leah Jacobi in Kensington Gardens and do
his best to induce her to give Cedric up.

"I shall tell her you have written to him and advise her to talk things
over with her brother. When he knows Cedric Templeton is not his
sister's heir, he will be the first to insist that your projected
marriage should be broken off--I shall say some such words to her."

"And you will come down again, and let us know the result of your
interview?" and Dinah looked at him imploringly. "Your room shall be
ready for you at any time."

"You are very kind," he returned hesitating. "My room at the 'King's
Arms' seems very comfortable." Then Dinah understoo