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heiress； too； but that Shargar felt to be a disadvantage for him。
All the progress he could yet boast of was that his attentions had
not been； so far as he could judge； disagreeable to her。 Robert
thought even less of the latter fact than Shargar himself； for he
did not believe there were many women to whom Shargar's attentions
would be disagreeable： they must always be simple and manly。 What
was more to the point； she had given him her address in London； and
he was going to call upon her the next day。 She was on a visit to
Lady Janet Gordon； an elderly spinster； who lived in Park…street。
'Are you quite sure she's not an adventuress； Shargar？'
'It's o' no mainner o' use to tell ye what I'm sure or no sure o'；
Robert； in sic a case。 But I'll manage； somehoo； 'at ye sall see
her yersel'； an' syne I'll speir back yer ain queston at ye。'
'Weel； hae ye tauld her a' aboot yersel'？'
'No！' answered Shargar； growing suddenly pale。 'I never thocht aboot
that。 But I had no richt； for a' that passed； to intrude mysel'
upo' her to that extent。'
'Weel； I reckon ye're richt。 Yer wounds an' yer medals ought to
weigh weel against a' that。 There's this comfort in 't； that gin
she bena richt weel worthy o' ye； auld frien'； she winna tak ye。'
Shargar did not seem to see the comfort of it。 He was depressed for
the remainder of the day。 In the morning he was in wild spirits
again。 Just before he started； however； he said； with an expression
of tremulous anxiety；
'Oucht I to tell her a' at ancealreadyabootaboot my mither？'
'I dinna say that。 Maybe it wad be equally fair to her and to
yersel' to lat her ken ye a bit better afore ye do that。We'll
think that ower。Whan ye gang doon the stair； ye'll see a bit
brougham at the door waitin' for ye。 Gie the coachman ony orders ye
like。 He's your servant as lang 's ye're in London。 Commit yer way
to the Lord； my boy。'
Though Shargar did not say much； he felt strengthened by Robert's
truth to meet his fate with something of composure。 But it was not
to be decided that day。 Therein lay some comfort。
He returned in high spirits still。 He had been graciously received
both by Miss Hamilton and her hostessa kind…hearted old lady； who
spoke Scotch with the pure tone of a gentlewoman； he saida treat
not to be had once in a twelvemonth。 She had asked him to go to
dinner in the evening； and to bring his friend with him。 Robert；
however； begged him to make his excuse； as he had an engagement
ina very different sort of place。
When Shargar returned； Robert had not come in。 He was too excited
to go to bed； and waited for him。 It was two o'clock before he came
home。 Shargar told him there was to be a large party at Lady
Patterdale's the next evening but one； and Lady Janet had promised
to procure him an invitation。
The next morning Robert went to see Mary St。 John； and asked if she
knew anything of Lady Patterdale； and whether she could get him an
invitation。 Miss St。 John did not know her； but she thought she
could manage it for him。 He told her all about Shargar； for whose
sake he wished to see Miss Hamilton before consenting to be
introduced to her。 Miss St。 John set out at once； and Falconer
received a card the next day。 When the evening came； he allowed
Shargar to set out alone in his brougham； and followed an hour later
in a hansom。
When he reached the house； the rooms were tolerably filled； and as
several parties had arrived just before him； he managed to enter
without being announced。 After a little while he caught sight of
Shargar。 He stood alone； almost in a corner； with a strange； rather
raised expression in his eyes。 Falconer could not see the object to
which they were directed。 Certainly； their look was not that of
love。 He made his way up to him and laid his hand on his arm。
Shargar betrayed no little astonishment when he saw him。
'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 ough