They were walking side by side now.

Malcolm had hardly trusted himself to look at her, and yet nothing had been lost on him.

How changed she was! that was his first thought.

She looked years older; mourning did not suit her; the black hat with its heavy trimming seemed to extinguish her somehow.

She was paler and thinner, he was sure of that, and had lost some of her splendid vitality; and yet in spite of all this it was to him the dearest face in the world.
As she made that poor little attempt at a smile, his whole heart went out to her in profound love and pity, and he forgot his own pain in remembering her trouble.
"Your sister told me about Mr.Carlyon," he said, as they crossed the road; "I was very glad to hear from her how well it answered." "He is very happy at Rotherwood," returned Elizabeth.