Oh, forgive me," checking himself abruptly, for the tears were streaming down Elizabeth's cheeks.
"No--no, it has been such a comfort! I shall not forget; you have done me so much good;" and then she wiped away her tears, and tried to smile, and by the time they reached the inn she had regained her composure.

During their drive home Malcolm occupied the seat next her in the waggonette, and Dinah, who was opposite to them, noticed that Elizabeth talked more to him than she had done since that unlucky afternoon at the Pool, and that Malcolm looked unusually happy.
But his content was of short duration.

The next morning, as they were waiting for the waggonette to take them to the station, Elizabeth wandered into the deserted garden, and Malcolm, who followed her, found her standing under a Guelder rose-tree, picking some of the snowy blossoms.
She greeted him with a smile.

"This reminds me of Cedric's nursery days," she observed.

"He used to love to pelt me with these soft white balls when he was a mite of a thing in a white frock and blue ribbons.
Powder-puffins," he used to call them.