"No," she said gently; "I know how good you will be to me--that if it were possible you would strew my daily path with thornless roses. But it is not possible, Malcolm." "Then we will take our share of the briars and thorns together." "Indeed we will. Malcolm, there is something I want to tell you before we stand by that grave to-morrow--something I should like you to know;" and then, in a voice broken by emotion, Elizabeth repeated the substance of her conversation with Mr. Carlyon. "It has made me so much happier," she faltered, when she had finished. Then Malcolm drew her closer to him. "I am glad you told me this," he said in a moved tone. "Dear Elizabeth, I have a confession to make. In those old unhappy days I used to wonder how you could care so much for him. He was good and true and earnest, and he loved you dearly; but all the same I could not understand." "Dinah and Mrs. Godfrey could not understand either," she replied gently; "but you none of you knew my David: it made me a better woman only to be near him. His father has just the same simple, guileless nature--my two Nathanaels I used to call them." "Dear, I understand better now," returned Malcolm kindly; "but I ask myself, could I have done the same in his place? I fear--I greatly fear, my love is not so selfless. If I had to die and leave you--" but Elizabeth would not listen to this. "If you had been in his place you would have been equally generous; I know your good heart far too well to doubt that, Malcolm." Elizabeth was a tall woman, and as she bent involuntarily towards him, her cheek rested for a moment against his; that simple womanly caress seemed to set the seal to her sacred confidence. But when she would have moved away he held her fast. "Elizabeth--Elizabeth," it was all he could say; but it was enough--no words were needed. Silently they said their Te Deum together, and the fair white moonlight lay on their bowed heads like a benison. Two or three days later Malcolm found his way to 27 Queen's Gate, and entered his mother's study unannounced. Mrs. Herrick was writing as usual. Her keen gray eyes lighted up with pleasure when she saw him. "My dear boy, at this hour--what a delightful surprise! I was just writing to Anna. Cedric will not hear of bringing her back until Thursday." Malcolm smiled at his mother's tone. Strong-willed woman as she was, he knew that Cedric would rule her utterly; the lad's wheedling ways and blarneying tongue had already won her heart. Cedric never could be made to understand why people were afraid of Mrs. Herrick. "Have you come to spend the afternoon with me, Malcolm?" "Yes, if you will have me. I have some news for you, mother." Malcolm was little nervous, and spoke with some abruptness. Mrs. Herrick laid down her pen and looked at him intently. "You need not tell me," she returned quietly. "I know your news--I can read it in your face--Elizabeth Templeton has promised to marry you."