‘As a relic of past Popery and modern prelacy,’ said Mr. Lindsay, ‘I think it might be well if the place were destroyed, even as the Fathers of the Reformation pulled down the abbeys and cathedrals of the north; but as a monument of antiquity the place is doubtless interesting. We will visit it to-morrow.’ ‘And the South Kensington Museum is also well worthy of a day’s study,’ said Alec. ‘I am too old to care for sight-seeing, my boy.’ ‘If you don’t care for it, Margaret would enjoy it, I am sure. Suppose you leave her behind with me, sir. She is not particularly wanted at the farm.’ ‘Oh, that is quite out of the question,’ said Mr. Lindsay. Alec was disposed to protest against this summary way of settling the matter, but Margaret entreated him by signs to be silent. In the course of the evening, however, a note came from Miss Lindsay to her cousin of the Castle Farm, saying that she meant to go north in two or three weeks, and would be glad if Margaret would spend the intervening time with her, and accompany her on her journey. And to this arrangement Mr. Lindsay gave a somewhat reluctant consent. Alec did not really feel free that day, till, about ten o’clock at night, he took leave of his father and sister, and set out for his own lodgings. The air of the street was sweet to him, heavy and polluted as it was. How different the solitude of his own room from the solitude of his cell! He had telegraphed to his landlady, and knew that things would be in readiness. He was prepared, therefore, for the cheery glow in the window-panes; but as he opened the door he became sensible of certain familiar odours. The air was dusky with tobacco-smoke; a steaming tumbler stood on the table; and before the fire were stretched the stalwart limbs of Duncan Cameron. ‘Don’t say you’re glad to see me, Alec, for I believe you are not,’ said the visitor. ‘I’ve been here for the last three hours. I might have kenned that your friends would lay hold on ye, body and soul.’ ‘You know very well I’m glad to see you, Duncan.’ ‘I don’t believe you. You might have been pleased to see me three hours ago. But there are times when a lee is more or less excusable. Such a time is the present.’ ‘Have you dined?’ ‘Eight hours ago.’ ‘Have you supped?’ ‘Not particularly.’ ‘We’ll have some supper at once, then; and you will stay for the night.’ This was settled; and after supper came pipes and tumblers, seasoned with scraps of information about old College cronies--memories which, though only a few years old, seemed to the two young men to lie already far behind them--and a due proportion of metaphysics. In the middle of the talk Cameron rose, and pulling a short instrument from his pocket, begged Alec to unbutton his waistcoat. ‘What are you going to do?’ ‘Satisfy my curiosity.’ ‘You don’t mean that there is anything the matter with me?’ ‘That is what I want to find out.’