Laura had not quite recovered from her fright on the following morning, when an extremely welcome piece of news restored her to her usual spirits. Mr. Lindsay had suddenly determined to transfer himself and his family to Paris; and Laura was overjoyed. When Alec called, therefore, in the afternoon, to ask how she was, he found her in the garden, dreaming of the coming pleasure, and in high good-humour. ‘You know, I was so dreadfully sorry for that accident,’ said Alec. ‘I almost felt as if I had been to blame. But I couldn’t help the landslip, could I?’ ‘Oh, of course not. And you must forget all the foolish things I said when I was in that terrible place. How brave you were! I am sure I owe you my life.’ ‘Next time we go a-climbing, we shan’t go where there are any precipices,’ said Alec. ‘But we can’t go climbing any more,’ said Laura, with visible satisfaction. ‘Haven’t you heard? We are all to set out for Paris the day after to-morrow.’ ‘For Paris!’ ‘Yes; and perhaps, after that, we may go to Italy. Isn’t it splendid?’ ‘Very--for you. But----’ He stopped, almost frightened at the audacious thought that had come into his mind. His pulses leaped, his heart throbbed, and his cheek grew pale. Laura looked at him curiously. ‘“But”--what?’ she asked. ‘But it will be very lonely for me. Life does not seem worth living when you are not near me.’ And then, hardly knowing what he said, he poured out the story of his love. He seized her hands, as they lay idly in her lap, and seemed unconscious of the efforts she made to withdraw them. He gazed into her face, and repeated his words with passionate earnestness, again and again:--‘I love you, Laura; I love you; I love you!’ Laura threw a glance around, to make sure that no one was in sight; and then, slipping her hands away, she covered with them her blushing face. When she looked up, she met Alec’s passionate gaze with a smile. ‘Oh, hush! hush!’ she said. ‘Why do you speak so wildly?’ ‘Because I love you.’ ‘But we are far too young to think of such things. I don’t mean to get married for--oh! ever such a long time. And you--you have to take your degree, and choose a profession. We will forget all this, and we shall be friends still, just as before.’ ‘It can never be just as before,’ said Alec. ‘Why not?’ ‘It is impossible. But you won’t refuse me, Laura?’ he pleaded. ‘If you only knew how much I love you! Don’t you love me a little in return? Sometimes I can’t help thinking you do.’ ‘Then all I can say is, you have a very strong imagination.’ ‘You don’t?’ cried Alec despairingly. Laura shook her head, but smiled at the same time. ‘You must give me an answer,’ said Alec, rising to his feet. He was dreadfully in earnest. ‘And I say that at your age and mine it is ridiculous to talk of such things.’ ‘Nonsense! We are not too young to love each other. _Can_ you love me, Laura? What you have said is no answer at all.’