But Malcolm was perfectly sincere.

No man loved the country more truly and sincerely.

Nevertheless, the town was equally necessary to him; and if he had been compelled to choose between them, his casting vote would have been for town.
"We are at the top of the hill now," observed Cedric presently, with a jerk of the reins to remind Brown Becky that she must not go to sleep, and then they bowled swiftly down a wide-open road.

They had just passed a cross-road, which, as Cedric informed Malcolm, led to Rotherwood, where the nearest church and shops were, when Malcolm's attention was attracted by a house they were passing.

It was a small gray house, standing rather back from the road, with a garden at the side full of gay flower-borders.
"Oh, that's the Crow's Nest," observed Cedric, "where the Logans live; that is where your friends the Kestons are coming.