"A fortnight! then, mother, I think my best plan is to go down to Strathoran myself and make inquiries. In a matter which involves two such important things as the happiness of Alice, and the honor of our family, there is no time for delay. I shall start to-morrow." "Can you spare the time?" said his mother--while Alice looked up half-glad, half-sorrowful--it might keep Lewis from coming to Edinburgh--at the same time, James was so sure to be convinced by Lewis's irresistible eloquence, and the gentler might of Anne. "I must spare it, mother," was the answer, "my ordinary business is not so important as this. What do you think--am I right?" "Perfectly right, James," said his mother, promptly, "I was about to advise this myself; and if you find anything satisfactory to report, you can bid this Lewis still come. I shall want to see who it is, who has superseded me in my little daughter's heart." "Oh, no, mother--no, no," cried Alice, imploringly. "Do not say that." James Aytoun rose and laid his hand caressingly upon his little sister's fair hair. She had been a child when he was rising into manhood. He thought her a child still--and with the grave difficulties of this, very unexpected problem, which they had to solve, there mingled a half-mirthful, half-sad, sort of incredulous wonder. Little Alice had done a very important piece of business independently and alone. Little Alice had the sober glory of matronhood hanging over her fair, girlish forehead. Little Alice was engaged! CHAPTER XV. Several days before Alice left the Tower, Lewis had written to Robert Ferguson, the youthful Edinburgh advocate, of whose very early call to the bar his father was so justly and pleasantly proud, telling him all they knew and guessed of Norman's history, except the one circumstance of his escape from the shipwreck; and explaining, in some slight degree, the immediate reason of their anxiety to clear their brother's name from the foul blot that lay upon it. Very shortly after Alice Aytoun's departure, an answer came to the letter of Lewis. With quick interest, partly in that it was one of the first cases in which his legal wisdom had been consulted, and partly from the kindly feeling of neighborship, which is so warm in Scotland, the young lawyer embraced the search, and promised to go down instantly to the parish in which the deed was done, or even to engage the assistance of an acute writer, of experience in his craft, if Lewis thought that desirable. Mr. Robert, however, with a young man's abundant confidence in his own power, fancied that he could accomplish the work quite as well alone. "He would go down quietly to the village," he said, "taking care to do nothing which might put the true criminal, if he still lived, upon his guard; and as soon as he had procured any information, would report it to Lewis."