Mr. Lindsay was persuaded to make the round of the chapels, and to visit Livingstone’s grave, and the coronation-stone. But even the matchless beauties of the Lady Chapel could not detain him long from the spot at which he could see aisle and nave, choir and transept, unite to form one glorious whole. Next day, Mr. Lindsay left London for his own home; and Margaret went to stay with Miss Lindsay at Claremont Gardens. As a matter of course Alec was there pretty often, for the short time that his sister was to be in town. On one occasion when he called only Laura was at home. It was the first time they had been alone together since the day of the trial. ‘I have never thanked you yet, Laura,’ said Alec, ‘for what you did for me at the court. Every day I have hoped for the chance of speaking to you alone; but I have not had an opportunity until now.’ Laura blushed almost painfully. She was sitting on a low seat near the fire, while Alec stood at the other end of the hearth-rug, with his elbow on the mantelpiece, leaning his head on his hand, and looking, not at his companion, but at the fire smouldering in the grate. ‘It was very brave of you, and very, very good of you.’ He stopped suddenly. He could not remind her that the special merit of her giving evidence was the fact that she had brought discredit on herself in doing so. ‘It was only what I ought to have done; but I should have done it sooner.’ ‘I am very glad you did not,’ said Alec quickly. ‘It was fortunate for me that you said nothing to the lawyers who were defending me. They would probably have prevented you from speaking in court at all.’ ‘I had hoped that I--that what I told might have done you some good,’ said Laura, almost bitterly. ‘It did no good at all.’ ‘Indeed, you are mistaken!’ ‘It was the evidence of that queer Scotch clerk that set you free.’ ‘No; it was yours. Or rather, you and he together secured the acquittal. You added the missing link in the chain.’ ‘Then I am well repaid.’ ‘And I shall be grateful to you as long as I live.’ But Laura was not satisfied with this. If he would only turn and look at her! But he stood there, gazing at the red embers without seeing them. ‘Surely,’ thought Laura, ‘he has not ceased to love me? He is not one who easily forgets.’ ‘Won’t you sit down?’ she said gently. But he did not seem to hear her. She was determined that he should speak. ‘Miss Lindsay is going north sooner than she intended,’ she said, almost sharply. ‘Ah!’ ‘Yes. I leave for Brighton the day after to-morrow.’ ‘I am sorry you are going. You are to live with some relations of your own, are you not?’ ‘Yes; with some distant relations of my mother’s. I am sure I shall dislike them.’ ‘Don’t say that.’ ‘Why not? I don’t suppose you care very much what sort of life I lead.’ For answer, Alec turned and met her glance. There was a gentle reproach in his look; but he said nothing. ‘It is too late,’ said Laura to herself. ‘He does not care for me now.’