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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 for a direct message from
heaven； which nobody heard but myself。'
'It was such none the less that I was sent to deliver it；' said
Falconer。 'I little thought during my imprisonment because of it；
that the end of my journey was already accomplished。'
Mysie put her hand in his。
'You have saved me； Mr。 Falconer。'
'For Ericson's sake； who was dying and could not；' returned
Falconer。
'Ah！' said Mysie； her large eyes opening with wonder。 It was
evident she had had no suspicion of his attachment to her。
'But；' said Falconer； 'there was another in it； without whom I could
have done nothing。'
'Who was that？'
'George Moray。'
'Did he know me then？'
'No。 Fortunately not。 You would not have looked at him then。 It
was all done for love of me。 He is the truest fellow in the world；
and altogether worthy of you； Miss Hamilton。 I will tell you the
whole story some day； lest he should not do himself justice。'
'Ah； that reminds