"Käthchen, there's a boat coming out from Heimra."
She went quickly and got her binocular telescope, and returned to the window.
"It's the Sirène!" she exclaimed.
"He has seen those flowers," Kate Glendinning said quietly.
Mary turned to her friend, with something of concern in her look.
"And if he has, Käthchen, I hope he won't speak of them. Don't you think it would be better—if nothing were said? Besides, you don't know that he is coming here at all."
But there was little doubt; and, in fact, on getting ashore, young Ross made straight for the house. When he was announced in the drawing-room, Mary happened to be standing near the door—perhaps with the least touch of conscious colour in the beautiful face. He, on the contrary, was pale, and calm, and self-possessed as usual; only, when he took her hand in his, he held it for a second.
"I thank you," he said, in rather a low voice: that was all—and it was enough.
But presently it appeared that his visit had some other aim; for when he sate down they saw that he had brought a small parcel with him; and presently he said—
"I am going to ask a favour of you, Miss Stanley; and I hope you won't refuse. I have brought a little present, if you will be so kind as to accept it: you may look on it as a souvenir of your visit to Heimra—for perhaps you remember the piece of lace you looked at——"