Laura had few reserves from her, so when she had ascertained that nothing had occurred when she had left them together in the grandmother's sitting-room but such talk as naturally arose out of the visit to it, she resolved to give him another opportunity, and after breakfast was about to propose a walk, when he helped her by asking her to show him that room again.
"I should like so much to have a photograph of Mr.Mortimer's picture," he said; "may I see it again ?" Nothing more easy.

They all went up to the room; a fire had been lighted to air it, because its atmosphere had felt chilly the day before.

Laura seated herself again on the sofa.

Brandon, with pen and ink, began trying to make a sketch of the portrait, and very soon found himself alone with Laura, as he had fully expected would be the case.

Whereupon, sitting with his back to her, and working away at his etching, he presently said-- "I mentioned yesterday to Mrs.Melcombe that I had come on business." "Yes," Laura answered.
"So as it concerns only you, I will, if you please, explain it now." As he leaned slightly round towards her Laura looked up, but she was mute through surprise.