I hope you will understand this." "I understand you perfectly, and I thank you from my heart for dealing so wisely with him; but not another word--voices travel far in this clear silence--and they are just by." Indeed, the next moment a voice hailed them.
"Hallo, you people," shouted Cedric, "have you been looking for glowworms or hunting moths?
David is quite tired of waiting." "I am afraid we have dawdled," observed Elizabeth briskly.

"Mr.Herrick and I were deep in conversation.

I think we will not come any farther; I have done my lady's mile, or thereabouts.

Good-night, Mr.Carlyon, I shall be over at the school to-morrow morning--" but here Elizabeth dropped her voice, and Malcolm heard no more.
She was rather silent when she joined them, and left the conversation to Cedric.

More than once Malcolm wondered what made her so thoughtful; but when they reached the house, and she bade him good-night in the hall, there was no coldness or abstraction in her beaming smile.
"If you sleep as well as you deserve--" she said; but he chose to misunderstand her.
"I should be hag-ridden and tormented, I fear." "Oh no, you would have rosy visions of celestial bowers," returned Elizabeth merrily.