Ian advanced and shook their hands and presented them to the Duchess and the Lady Shiona. “If you had arrived a few minutes ago,” he said, “you should have been presented to the Queen’s Grace. Get on your throne again, Your Highness,” he said to Aline, and then with much laughter they made Walter and Wilfred kneel and kiss her hand. Walter had recently been in Holwick and had decided that he might vary his programme by a tour in Scotland, and make it an opportunity of seeing Ian and Aline and little Joan, and of taking them the news from Upper Teesdale, together with a letter from Audry. The venture had proved a great success and Walter was in an unusually contented frame of mind, even for him. “Sit down, man,” said Ian, “and tell us everything about Holwick. We should much like to know all that befell after we escaped.” “Oh, but tarry a little, Ian,” said Aline; “there is something that must be done first. You tell Walter what we have been doing, while I talk awhile with Wilfred. Wilfred, come hither,” she continued, leading the way to one of the double seated windows. “I am so glad to see you again, Wilfred,” she said, when they had sat down, “and you are looking well.” “Yes, Mistress Aline, and I am glad to see you, and, oh, Mistress, you are looking bonnie in those brave things,” he added in a burst of boyish admiration, and then subsided overcome by shyness for having said too much. “Wilfred,” she said, “you recall the last time that we met and what we spake about?” “I do, indeed, and I shall not forget your sympathy.” “Do you remember my saying that I thought the spirit of light must in its own time triumph over the spirit of darkness? I did not know at the time what moved me to say it. I only meant it in a general way, and yet I had a strange presentiment that it had some special meaning for you.” “What do you mean?” he asked. “Wilfred, what was the sad news that you heard at Kirkoswald? Tell me.” “They told us that little Joan had gone to Durham and died there.” “Yes, but did you hear it from any one who really knew Joan?” “No, Mistress, it was from a man who had been over to Holwick.” “Then how do you know it was true?” “Oh, Mistress Aline, Mistress Aline,” said the boy, “do you think it might be untrue?” “I know it was untrue,” she said gently. For the moment the boy was too overcome to speak. His heart beat violently, his eyes grew round and large. “Oh, tell me, tell me,” he besought. “I promised that I would bring you back the things you gave to Joan. I cannot do that yet; so I am going to bring you Joan herself. She is here in this place.” “Here in this place!” he repeated as Aline rose and went to fetch the little girl. She was back in a minute or two and the boy was still seated in the same attitude, dumbfounded. “Here she is, Wilfred,” she said, leading Joan forward by the hand.