'Now, what the deuce has he been up to--this fellow, with his hair cut to the military pattern--Newgate crop, I should call it--he looks queer this morning,' muttered Holcroft, as he selected a cigar from his case, bit the end off with his sharp white teeth, and proceeded to smoke it with brief, angry, and unenjoyable puffs that indicated a mind full of bitterness and ill at ease. Olive's communication had been a sudden revelation to him. CHAPTER XIII. ALLAN PROVES MYSTERIOUS. If Allan's sudden departure and unexplained absence excited some curiosity in the minds of his family, his return excited it afresh when he declined to make any explanation until he had held an interview with his cousin, Olive Raymond, who, for a time, secluded herself in her own room on the usual feminine plea of having a headache. Eveline, who had so longed for his return, now with tears told him of her father's frequently expressed wish--nay, command, and Sir Paget's forthcoming proposal; but, full of his own miseries, he could only caress her and say, 'God bless you, little one. I wish you well over all this.' Sir Paget had left Dundargue pending the final arrangements, as he thought; thus the cloud and the dread were hanging over her still. 'Has Olive received back her gold bangle--my gift--from Mr. Holcroft?' asked Allan, with knitted brows. 'I--I think not. How did you learn he had it?' 'Plainly enough--I saw it on his wrist!' 'Where he put it, in play--not she.' 'I should hope not, by Jove!' 'I know she has asked him for it repeatedly.' 'Can't make the beggar out.' 'I can--he thinks Olive an heiress. Allan's dark brow became more deeply knitted. 'She thinks that if she married you, Allan dear,' said his sister, after a pause, 'she would be sacrificing her own pride and liberty, and that you might marry her though not caring for her----' 'But for that wretched money?' said Allan, with a kind of snort. 'Poor Olive--she views the situation in this light! I certainly shall not ask her to make any sacrifices for me, and, so far as I am concerned, she shall be free as a bird in the air.' His sister regarded him now with some perplexity, not understanding what he meant, but said, 'You have just come in time for a little carpet-dance we have arranged as a farewell treat to Ruby Logan, Mr. Holcroft, and--and Evan Cameron, who are about to leave Dundargue.' Allan noted the inflection of her voice as she uttered the name of his young brother officer, and then hurried away, as their mother entered the room, and with rather a cloudy expression in her face, though he hastened to kiss her. 'You have been to Edinburgh, I have heard,' she said. 'Yes.' 'About what, Allan?' 'That you will learn in time, mother. I must speak with Olive first.' Lady Aberfeldie was full of irrepressible curiosity, but Allan declined to gratify it just then. 'Have your recent movements any reference to Olive?' 'You will learn in time, mother.'