ore he started, however, he said, with an expression of tremulous
anxiety,

'Oucht I to tell her a' at ance--already--aboot--aboot 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 hostess--a kind-hearted old lady, who spoke
Scotch with the pure tone of a gentlewoman, he said--a 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 in--a 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.

'