"How unfortunate!"
"The moment the crowd had dispersed sufficiently we drove to the castle; but you were off no one knew where, and Alice was sorely displeased."
"I was away to Lochisla," replied Ronald, while his brow became clouded.
The band of the Highlanders commenced at that moment 'el Morillo,' a well-known Spanish waltz which they had learned abroad.
"Oh, the gay, the graceful waltz! Let me look upon it," said Virginia, bending forward, while her eyes flashed with delight. "Ah! I am dying to have a waltz. 'Tis el Morillo!"
"May I have the honour?"! said Ronald, taking her hand and leading her forward.
"Stay but a moment—there is Alice."
"Where?—ah! tell me."
"How gracefully she steps! Beautiful! beautiful!"
Stuart looked in vain for the Alice he had known in Perthshire.