"I see Mullins crossing the bridge.
If David comes I will make an excuse for your absence;" and Elizabeth nodded and turned away.

Dinah's heart was very heavy as she stood looking down upon the Pool.

It is the looker-on who sees most of the game, and weeks ago she had vainly tried to open Elizabeth's eyes to a sense of her danger.
"He has never said a word to me that the whole world might not hear--I don't believe he ever will," Elizabeth had replied obstinately; but Dinah knew that she was wilfully deceiving herself--that her intuition was truer than her words, and that in Malcolm Herrick's presence she was always on guard, as if she feared an invasion of her woman's kingdom.
Dinah could have wept too in her grievous disappointment and passionate pity, for Elizabeth's choice seemed to her a great mistake.

David Carlyon was a dear fellow, and as good as gold, but he was not equal to Malcolm.
"If only they had met a year ago," she thought, "before David's influence grew so strong, she would surely have discovered then that they were made for each other.

Mr.Herrick is just the sort of man she would have admired.