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'You here； Robert！' he said。
'Yes； I'm here。 Have you seen her yet？ Is she here？'
'Wha do ye think 's speakin' till her this verra minute？ Look
there！' Shargar said in a low voice； suppressed yet more to hide
his excitement。
Following his directions； Robert saw； amidst a little group of
gentlemen surrounding a seated lady； of whose face he could not get
a peep； a handsome elderly man； who looked more fashionable than his
years justified； and whose countenance had an expression which he
felt repulsive。 He thought he had seen him before； but Shargar gave
him no time to come to a conclusion of himself。
'It's my brither Sandy； as sure 's deith！' he said； 'and he's been
hingin' aboot her ever sin' she cam in。 But I dinna think she likes
him a'thegither by the leuk o' her。'
'What for dinna ye gang up till her yersel'； man？ I wadna stan'
that gin 'twas me。'
'I'm feared 'at he ken me。 He's terrible gleg。 A' the Morays are
gleg； and yon marquis has an ee like a hawk。'
'What does 't maitter？ Ye hae dune naething to be ashamed o' like
him。'
'Ay； but it's this。 I wadna hae her hear the trowth aboot me frae
that boar's mou' o' his first。 I wad hae her hear 't frae my ain；
an' syne she canna think I meant to tak her in。'
At this moment there was a movement in the group。 Shargar；
receiving no reply； looked round at Robert。 It was now Shargar's
turn to be surprised at his expression。
'Are ye seein' a vraith； Robert？' he said。 'What gars ye leuk like
that； man？'
'Oh！' answered Robert； recovering himself； 'I thought I saw some one
I knew。 But I'm not sure。 I'll tell you afterwards。 We've been
talking too earnestly。 People are beginning to look at us。'
So saying； he moved away towards the group of which the marquis
still formed one。 As he drew near he saw a piano behind Miss
Hamilton。 A sudden impulse seized him； and he yielded to it。 He
made his way to the piano； and seating himself； began to play very
softlyso softly that the sounds could scarcely be heard beyond the
immediate neighbourhood of the instrument。 There was no change on
the storm of talk that filled the room。 But in a few minutes a face
white as a shroud was turned round upon him from the group in front；
like the moon dawning out of a cloud。 He stopped at once； saying to
himself； 'I was right；' and rising； mingled again with the crowd。 A
few minutes after； he saw Shargar leading Miss Hamilton out of the
room； and Lady Janet following。 He did not intend to wait his
return； but got near the door； that he might slip out when he should
re…enter。 But Shargar did not return。 For； the moment she reached
the fresh air； Miss Hamilton was so much better that Lady Janet；
whose heart was as young towards young people as if she had never
had the unfortunate love affair tradition assigned her； asked him to
see them home； and he followed them into her carriage。 Falconer
left a few minutes after； anxious for quiet that he might make up
his mind as to what he ought to do。 Before he had walked home； he
had resolved on the next step。 But not wishing to see Shargar yet；
and at the same time wanting to have a night's rest； he went home
only to change his clothes； and betook himself to a hotel in Covent
Garden。
He was at Lady Janet's door by ten o'clock the next morning； and
sent in his card to Miss Hamilton。 He was shown into the
drawing…room； where she came to him。
'May I presume on old acquaintance？' he asked； holding out his hand。
She looked in his face quietly； took his hand； pressed it warmly；
and said；
'No one has so good a right； Mr。 Falconer。 Do sit down。'
He placed a chair for her； and obeyed。
After a moment's silence on both sides：
'Are you aware； Miss？' he said and hesitated。
'Miss Hamilton；' she said with a smile。 'I was Miss Lindsay when you
knew me so many years ago。 I will explain presently。'
Then with an air of expectation she awaited the finish of his
sentence。
'Are you aware； Miss Hamilton； that I am Major Moray's oldest
friend？'
'I am quite aware of it； and delighted to know it。 He told me so
last night。'
Somewhat dismayed at this answer； Falconer resumed；
'Did Major Moray likewise communicate with you concerning his own
history？'
'He did。 He told me all。'
Falconer was again silent for some moments。
'Shall I be presuming too far if I venture to conclude that my
friend will not continue his visits？'
'On the contrary；' she answered； with the same delicate blush that
in old times used to overspread the lovely whiteness of her face； 'I
expect him within half…an…hour。'
'Then there is no time to be lost；' thought Falconer。
'Without presuming to express any opinion of my own；' he said
quietly； 'a social code far less severe than that which prevails in
England； would take for granted that an impassable barrier existed
between Major Moray and Miss Hamilton。'
'Do not suppose； Mr。 Falconer； that I could not meet Major Moray's
honesty with equal openness on my side。'
Falconer； for the first time almost in his life； was incapable of
speech from bewilderment。 But Miss Hamilton did not in the least
enjoy his perplexity； and made haste to rescue both him and herself。
With a blush that was now deep as any rose； she resumed；
'But I owe you equal frankness； Mr。 Falconer。 There is no barrier
between Major Moray and myself but the foolishno；
wickedindiscretion of an otherwise innocent and ignorant girl。
Listen； Mr。 Falconer： under the necessity of the circumstances you
will not misjudge me if I compel myself to speak calmly。 This； I
trust； will be my final penance。 I thought Lord Rothie was going to
marry me。 To do him justice； he never said so。 Make what excuse
for my folly you can。 I was lost in a mist of vain imaginations。 I
had had no mother to teach me anything； Mr。 Falconer； and my father
never suspected the necessity of teaching me anything。 I was very
ill on the passage to Antwerp； and when I began to recover a little；
I found myself beginning to doubt both my own conduct and his
lordship's intentions。 Possibly the fact that he was not quite so
kind to me in my illness as I had expected； and that I felt hurt in
consequence； aided the doubt。 Then the thought of my father
returning and finding that I had left him； came and burned in my
heart like fire。 But what was I to do？ I had never been out of
Aberdeen before。 I did not know even a word of French。 I was
altogether in Lord Rothie's power。 I thought I loved him； but it
was not much of love that sea…sickness could get the better of。
With a heart full of despair I went on shore。 The captain slipped
a note into my hand。 I put it in my pocket； but pulled it out with
my handkerchief in the street。 Lord Rothie picked it up。 I begged
him to give it me； but he read it； and then tore it in pieces。 I
entered the hotel； as wretched as girl could well be。 I began to
dislike him。 But during dinner he was so kind and attentive that I
tried to persuade myself that my fears were fanciful。 After dinner
he took me out。 On the stairs we met a lady whose speech was
Scotch。 Her maid called her Lady Janet。 She looked kindly at me as
I passed。 I thought she could read my face。 I remembered
afterwards that Lord Rothie turned his head away when we met her。
We went into the cathedral。 We were standing under that curious
dome； and I was looking up at its strange lights； when down came a
rain of bell…notes on the roof over my head。 Before the first tune
was over； I seemed to expect the second； and then the third； without
thinking how I could know what was coming； but when they ended with
the ballad of the Witch Lady； and I lifted up my head and saw that I
was not by my father's fireside； but in Antwerp Cathedral with Lord
Rothie； despair filled me with a half…insane resolution。 Happily
Lord Rothie was at some little distance talking to a priest about
one of Rubens's pictures。 I slipped unseen behind the nearest
pillar； and then flew from the church。 How I got to the hotel I do
not know； but I did reach it。 'Lady Janet；' was all I could say。
The waiter knew the name； and led me to her room。 I threw myself
on my knees； and begged her to save me。 She assured me no one
should touch me。 I gasped 'Lord Rothie；' and fainted。 When I came
to myselfbut I need not tell you all the particulars。 Lady Janet
did take care of me。 Till last night I never saw Lord Rothie again。
I did not acknowledge him； but he persisted in talking to me；
behave as I would； and I saw well enough that he knew me。'
Falconer took her hand and kissed it。
'Thank God；' he said。 'That spire was indeed the haunt of angels as
I fancied while I played upon those bells。'
'I knew it was youthat is； I was sure of it when I came to think
about it； but at the time I took it