have you falling ill on my hands. Besides, you must be at the Wood
House, in case Cedric comes;" and as Dinah perceived the force of this
argument, she said no more about accompanying her sister.

Malcolm, however, was not so easily satisfied. "Are you sure that you
had better do this?" he said rather gravely. "Would it not be wiser to
leave Mrs. Godfrey to deal with Miss Jacobi?" But Elizabeth seemed
quite indignant.

"Mr. Herrick, I did not expect this from you," she said severely. "I
thought we were to do good to our enemies--and this poor soul is not
our enemy after all. We have a debt to pay to her, have we not, Die?
for she has set our boy free. We must do all we can to help her, and to
free her from her terrible brother; for as long as she is with him
there can be no peace for her."

"No, you are right," replied Malcolm slowly; "Saul Jacobi is her curse.
He is a cold-hearted, selfish schemer. Well, I will not try to hinder
your good work, for I see you are bent on doing it. You will go
to-morrow, then?"

"Yes, I think so," but Elizabeth hesitated and looked at her sister.
"David is expecting his father to-morrow, and he will not want me until
the next day--" but she broke off here as dinner was announced.

It could not be said that Malcolm enjoyed his meal. The presence of the
servants prevented any freedom in the conversation, and as Dinah was
still oppressed and weak from the effects of her headache, the brunt of
the talk fell on Malcolm and Elizabeth, and neither of them seemed
quite at their ease. The mention of his rival had affected Malcolm
painfully, and Elizabeth was aware of this and was at once on her
guard. She avoided all local subjects and plied him with questions
about his mother and Anna and the Kestons; all of which Malcolm
answered punctiliously. When a pause in the conversation seemed
inevitable, he plunged into the breach with a description of Amias
Keston's latest picture, and an anecdote or two about that infant
prodigy Babs; he spoke of a book he had been reading, from which he
gave them copious extracts; and then, dessert being placed on the
table, he drew a sigh of relief. By that time he was sensible of
fatigue.

He left them soon after this. When he bade Dinah good-bye, she took
both his hands and looked wistfully in his face. "I cannot say anything
to-night," she whispered--"I am too giddy and confused; but I will
write, and--and God bless you!"

To his surprise Elizabeth fol