By the bye, I have never given you Elizabeth's message.

She says that now you have become a celebrated author, she hopes you will not forget your old friends at the Wood House.

Of course, this was only one of her joking speeches; she makes her little jokes now and then.

What she really means is that you have not been to see us for a long time, and that when you come you will be welcome." Malcolm read this letter at least a dozen times, and each time he came to the message he smiled as though he were well pleased; nevertheless he made no attempt to go to Staplegrove.
With the exception of that half-hour in the churchyard, he had not seen Elizabeth since her trouble--an instinctive feeling of delicacy had warned him to keep his distance.

Nearly eight months had passed, but he was still unwilling to force himself upon her, and the present moment seemed to him peculiarly unpropitious.