'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
softly--so 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.
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