‘Certainly. Am I a ghost?’
‘I thought you were far away—gone back to your friends in England.’
‘No,’ said Laura tranquilly, seating herself on a couch; ‘my poor uncle left me as a legacy to Mr. Lindsay; and here I am. You have not even said you are glad to see me.’
‘You know I am glad. But I was sorry to hear of your loss, and sorry to think of your grief.’
‘Yes; it was very sad, and so sudden,’ answered Laura, casting down her eyes. ‘And how did you come to be here?’ she asked, lifting them again to her companion’s face. Alec told her; and then his uncle and Miss Lindsay came into the room.
‘So you’ve got a veesitor?’ said the old lady to Laura, as she came forward.
‘Oh no!’ answered the girl. ‘I had no idea anyone was in the room when I came in; and your nephew stared at me as if I had been an apparition.’
She smiled as she spoke; but Alec noticed that as soon as the elder lady turned away the smile suddenly faded.
Nothing worth mentioning was said in the conversation that followed. Alec hoped that before he took his leave he would receive a general invitation to the house; but nothing of the kind was forthcoming. That, however, mattered little. Laura was here, close to him; they would be sure to meet; and of course he was at liberty to go to Glendhu occasionally. He went home to his lodgings wondering at his good fortune. The rosy hue had returned to the earth, and Arrochar was the most delightful spot on the habitable globe.
The one event of the day in the village was the arrival of the steamer and the departure of the coach which carried passengers to Tarbert on Loch Lomond. It was a favourite amusement of the inhabitants to lounge about the landing-place on these occasions, ostensibly coming for their letters and newspapers, but really pleased to see new faces and make comments about the appearance of the tourists. Laura Mowbray generally found it necessary to go to the post-office about the time of the steamer’s arrival; and Alec was not long in turning the custom to his own advantage.