Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, and Henley had all been proposed; but Anna had been indifferent to each.

She had been to the Royal Academy more than once, and all the best concerts were over; the weather was too hot for sight-seeing, and in her present state of languor she dreaded fatigue and crowds.

"What did the place matter after all," she said to herself, "as long as Malcolm was with her?
Her rest and enjoyment were in his society--to sit beside him and listen to his dear voice, and tell him all her little joys and troubles." The programme was still a blank when Malcolm knocked at his mother's door.

Anderson received him with a beaming face.

The old man had grown a trifle stiff and rheumatic of late years, but he still kept a sharp eye on his coadjutor--the weak-minded and erring Charles.
"They are not expecting you just yet, Mr.Malcolm," observed Anderson respectfully; "the mistress has a committee in the library, and Miss Anna is in the drawing-room along with Charles and the carpenter, arranging the seats." "What time do they dine, Anderson ?" Malcolm put the question with some indifference--he knew quite well what the answer would be.
"Why, you see, Mr.Malcolm, it is past six now," returned Anderson apologetically, "and the meeting's for eight, and the mistress said there would be no time for dinner as the committee would not break up until seven, so she will have a cup of tea and a sandwich." "Oh, indeed," returned Malcolm drily.