"Ay, Mr. Malcolm, she did; and begging your pardon, dearie, you do
not half understand my mistress. She is quiet-spoken, and does not
show her feelings; but she has a warm heart. I know as well as you
do that our poor child is put upon and overworked, but she is the
sunshine of my mistress's life; that's what makes things so
difficult, for Miss Anna is bent on helping her, and will not listen
to a word."

Malcolm soon found he must hold his peace, and very soon his mind
was too much absorbed by his own concerns. After a time he got used
to Anna's pale cheeks; she had refused to listen to his advice, and
must dree her weird.

He had his own battles to fight, and victory was not easily
achieved; nevertheless his masculine will prevailed.

It was no hastily considered resolution that determined Malcolm to
leave his mother's roof and set up in chambers of his own, neither
did he effect his purpose without a good deal of pain; but, as he
told Cedric, life at 27 Queen's Gate was becoming impossible to him.

But it was one of the worst moments of his life when he announced
his intention to his mother. She listened to his embarrassed
explanation silently, and without offering any interruption; but her
pleasant, strong-featured face grew set and stern, and when he had
finished she looked at him almost solemnly.

"He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow," she said
slowly and sadly, and no word of reproach could have stung him more