Malcolm wished her good-night at the foot of the staircase, and watched her until she was out of sight. His mother looked at him a little keenly when he rejoined her. "What have you and Anna been talking about?" she asked rather abruptly; "the child does not look quite happy." "We were only talking about the ladies of the Wood House," he returned quietly. "Anna thinks she would like to make their acquaintance some day." But Mrs. Herrick made no reply to this; she was regarding her son thoughtfully, and her strong, sensible face wore an expression almost of sadness. But she gave him no clue to her feelings, and when the time came for him to take his leave her manner was more affectionate than usual. She was still on the balcony as he passed out, and a cheery "Good-night, my son," floated down to him. But as she stood listening to his departing footsteps she said to herself, "He is changed somehow, he is not quite himself, and Anna has noticed it. I wonder"--and here she sighed rather heavily--"I wonder what sort of woman this Miss Elizabeth Templeton can be." CHAPTER XVIII "YES, SHE GAVE HIM UP" Thou art so good, So calm!--If thou shouldst wear a brow less light For some wild thought which, but for me, were kept From out thy soul as from a sacred star! --BROWNING. To every living soul that same He saith, "Be faithful;" whatsoever else we be, Let us be faithful, challenging His faith. --CHRISTINA ROSSETTI. The Manor House where the Godfreys lived was a fine old red-brick Elizabethan house, standing about a quarter of a mile from the river. A delightful garden surrounded it, but the chief point of attraction to visitors was a terrace walk, shaded by old chestnut trees, which formed its extreme boundary, and which, on the hottest summer's day, offered a cool and shady retreat. The terrace was broad, and at one end was a sort of loggia or alcove built of grayish-white stone, with a wide stone bench running round it. From this point there was a charming view of the river between the trees, and it was here that Malcolm found his hostess on his arrival at the Manor House.