“My lord, I will do anything I can for you—anything but consent to your leaving Castle Warlock to-day.”
“You will spend the night with me then?”
“I will.”
“But not in that room, you know.”
“Anywhere you please in the house, my lord, except my mother’s room.”
“Then I’ll stop.—Joan, you may amuse yourself; we are not going till to-morrow.”
The laird smiled; he could not flatter himself with the hope of so speedy a departure. Joan turned to Cosmo.
“Will you take me about the place?” she said.
“If you mean in-doors,” interposed the laird. “It is a curious old house, and might interest you a little.”
“I should like nothing better. May I go with Cosmo?”