Trevor leant his elbow upon the mantelpiece, and pressed his brow upon his hand, in unquiet thought. Seaham rose. "A year then," he repeated, "for a year, I may tell my sister you agree to the necessity of postponing matters. During that time," he added with marked significance, "I shall be constantly to be found in London." "And your sister?" Trevor eagerly demanded. "Mary will very shortly proceed to Scotland, where she may probably remain some time with my sister who lives in Edinburgh." "What, so far?" Trevor exclaimed impatiently. "I cannot see," the brother replied with some _hauteur_, "that a greater vicinity under present circumstances, would be either necessary or desireable. Interviews for instance, such as the one by which my sister's feelings were so distressed to-day, can be neither for her happiness or advantage." Trevor had no more to say. He shook hands with Arthur, who appeared to have no further desire to remain. Like one subdued and exhausted in mind and body, almost silently he suffered the young man to take his leave. Seaham merely repeated that he should be found, or could be referred to at any time at the Temple, and in a few moments had quitted the hotel. CHAPTER VIII. Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour and to wait. LONGFELLOW. In less than a fortnight from the period of this interview, Mary escorted by her brother-in-law, Mr. Gillespie, who had been in London on business, left England for Edinburgh. This plan was much more accordant with her state of feeling at this period, than would have been that of accompanying her sister Agnes into Wales, as the latter was so affectionately anxious she should have done. It would have been melancholy for her just then to have found her dear old home, Glan Pennant, in the hands of strangers, and there is something still more melancholy to the feelings in revisiting familiar scenes, associated as they may be in the mind with naught but happy careless memories, when over the spirit of our dream has passed like a blight some subduing change, such as was now overshadowing Mary's happiness. "It wrings the heart to see each thing the same, Tread over the same steps, and then to find The difference in the heart. It is so sad, So very lonely to be the sole one In whom there is a sign of change." Besides it was very long since she had seen her sister Alice, so tied to home by her many domestic cares and duties. Agnes' life was one as yet all holiday enjoyment--her heart bounding with delight at the prospect of an establishment in her beautiful country home--in her own dear neighbourhood.