"I would rather you wired to me from Paddington--the letter can follow.

Surely you can have no objection," he continued, as Cedric seemed reluctant to do this; "it will set my mind at rest, and I shall have a better night;" and then Cedric rather ungraciously promised that a telegram should be sent.
"You must be very firm," were Malcolm's parting words, and Cedric nodded impatiently as he put on his cap and gown.
Malcolm slept restlessly; he was tired and anxious, and had done a hard day's work.

His failure to influence Cedric troubled him greatly.
"They will talk him over," he repeated, "and that woman will lure him into her wiles again;" and Malcolm felt there was grave cause for fear, as he remembered Leah's rare beauty, and the strange brilliancy of her dark, melancholy eyes.

Oh, what would Dinah Templeton say if she knew of the danger that threatened her cherished boy! Malcolm tossed restlessly on his bed as he tried to formulate plans, which he rejected one by one.

"If it comes to the worst, I must do as Mrs.Godfrey suggests," he thought--"I must go down to the Wood House and take counsel with them;" and in all probability it was this thought that kept him wakeful.
The next morning Malcolm learnt from Cedric's scout that his master had left by an early train; and as he himself had one or two appointments that morning, he only waited to swallow a hasty breakfast before he followed him.
For the next few hours he was very busy, and could hardly give Cedric a thought; but as work slackened and the afternoon wore on, he wondered at the non-arrival of the telegram.