Betty ?" he continued; but to every one's surprise Elizabeth demurred to this.
"She was very sorry," she stammered, "but she had promised to go to Rotherwood." "Why, we are all going there after luncheon!" exclaimed Cedric.
"Herrick wants to call at the vicarage, so we can leave him there, and you can go on to Rowan Cottage." But again Elizabeth hesitated.

"It was a great pity," she returned hurriedly, "but Mr.Carlyon and Theo were going to Earlsfield in the afternoon, and she wanted to see Theo particularly about the new school-books that they were to order at Thornton's.

Theo makes such mistakes," she went on: "the last batch was all wrong and had to be sent back;" and though Cedric argued with her, and Anna put in a persuasive word or two, Elizabeth was firm.

The afternoon would not do.
She was very sorry to be so unsociable; but it could not be helped--she must go alone.
All this time Malcolm had said no word.

Perhaps if he had, Elizabeth might have been induced to reconsider her decision.