He now inquired for the ladies, and was snappishly told that 'they were well, sir--well;' but whether at home or not, Sir Piers did not condescend to say; so Falconer almost held his breath at every sound, expecting Mary to enter the room; but he hoped in vain, for never even once did a light footstep or the rustle of a dress announce her vicinity. However, he had barely seated himself, when Sir Piers, as if reading his very thoughts, said bluntly: 'I wished to see you, sir, on a subject that has recently come to my knowledge. You have been addressing Miss Montgomerie in terms which no honourable man would do, without the full permission of those who are nearest and dearest to her, and have thus her welfare and her future at heart.' Falconer, who felt painfully that in tone, bearing, and expression of eye, Sir Piers was now very unlike the hearty and hospitable veteran who welcomed him to Eaglescraig, said, with a somewhat faltering voice: 'All who have the happiness to know Miss Montgomerie will ever have her welfare and happiness at heart, Sir Piers.' 'Am I right in asserting what I do, Captain Falconer?' asked the latter, ignoring his remark. 'Before being borne away by my feelings, and permitting myself to address your grand-niece----' 'And ward. Yes, sir--well?' 'I ought, doubtless, to have obtained your sanction----' 'Or sought for it--well, sir--well?' 'And have satisfied you as to--as to----' 'Your means and position?' interrupted the old man, impatiently. 'Yes, Sir Piers,' said Falconer, taking up his hat, which he relinquished. 'By the way, it has never occurred to me to ask you fully and distinctly who you are--but now I seem to have some right to do so?' said Sir Piers, as all Hew's promptings came to memory. 'Who I am?' exclaimed Falconer, partially cresting up his head, yet colouring too evidently with mental pain, as the keen eyes of his questioner could see. 'Yes, sir.' 'I am, as you know, Captain Cecil Falconer, of the Cameronian regiment,' he replied, somewhat haughtily. 'Anything more?' 'In what way?' 'Family--antecedents. The devil! do you think that I would permit a nameless stranger to address Miss Montgomerie as you have done?' 'I am not rich, certainly--the reverse rather.' 'I don't care an _anna_ for that, as we say in India; but as regards family----' 'Suffice it that I am utterly alone in the world,' interrupted Cecil, with a cadence in his voice that made the general feel some pity for him, though not inclined to yield an inch, for his words seemed to corroborate all that Hew had alleged or inferred. 'When my poor mother died, I seemed, for a time, to lose the last link that bound me to the world. To her I owe education, position, the commission I hold--everything!' And now, when he spoke of his mother, his voice grew soft and infinitely tender, and a subdued light shone in his averted eyes--the light of love and a great reverence. 'And your father?' said the general, in a softer voice.