'In Perthshire?'
'In Perthshire,' she repeated mechanically.
'Near where the silver birches overhang the Tay?' he asked with a caressing smile.
'Yes—and very soon,' said she, turning as if to retire.
'But not before our ball,' said he eagerly. 'You accepted our invitation?'
'Mary pressed me to do so,' she replied, colouring; 'and now we must hasten back to her and Mrs. Garth, for we are quite losing all that lovely music of Gounod's.'
'Stay one moment—do bear with me,' said he in an agitated voice.
'I do not understand,' she began falteringly, and then paused, yet looking him fully, firmly, and sadly in the eyes; 'have you aught to say to me?'
'So we meet again face to face, after all these changeful years, Annabelle!'
'I am simply Miss Erroll to you, Captain Fotheringhame.'