nto my
kingdom."

"Yes, I know what you mean," replied the friend to whom he had said
this: "the children were strewing flowers, and there were timbrels and
harps, and they had crowned you with laurel leaves, as though you were
a conquering hero."

"Something of that sort," he returned laughing. "But you must not make
fun of my sweet mistress from Parnassus; it kept me sane and cool to
woo my reluctant Muse. At times she frowned, and then I set my teeth
hard and worked like a navvy; but when she smiled my pen seemed to fly
in the sunlight, and I was warm and happy."

Malcolm sent a copy of his book to Dinah, and she was not long in
acknowledging it. "We have both read it, and think it beautiful," she
wrote. "I tried to read it aloud to Elizabeth, but I got so choky over
it, and stopped so often, that she grew impatient at last and carried
off the book to finish it in her own room. She wants me to tell you how
much she likes it. She has sent a copy to Mr. Carlyon. Now I am going
to tell you a piece of news that will rather surprise you, but
Elizabeth did not wish me to drop a hint until things were definitely
settled."

"Mr. Carlyon has resigned his living. The doctor has told him plainly
that another winter at Stokeley will be too great a risk: the place is
very bleak and cold, and the work far too hard. The Bishop is going to
put in a younger man."

"Mr. Carlyon is actually coming to Rotherwood, and is to take David's
place"--Malcolm started and frowned when he came to this. "You will be
surprised, of course--every one is--but it is really a most excellent
arrangement."

"You see, Mr. Charrington's health is not good, and as he will have to
winter abroad, he really requires a curate-in-charge who will be
responsible for the parish. The salary will be very little less than
the income of Stokeley; there is no house, but we have got over this
difficulty. Do you remember that low gray house, with the rowan tree
over the gate, just by Elizabeth's Home of Rest, where little Kit died?
It is scarcely more than a cottage, but it is very cosy and
comfortable, and quite large enough for Theo and her father. There are
two sitting-rooms--the larger one is to be Mr. Carlyon's study, they
will not need a drawing-room--and four bed-rooms, and the garden is
really charming. Rowan Cottage belongs to us, so we can ask a nominal
rent. I cannot tell you how happy all this makes Elizabeth. Mr. Carlyon
has been her one thought since