It was one of the largest in the Place. He would not, however, yield
to the temptation to have a good look at it, for fear of attracting
attention from its windows and being recognised. They turned therefore
aside into some of the smaller thoroughfares lying between Portland
Place and Great Portland Street, where searching about, they came
upon a decent looking public house and inquired after lodgings.
They were directed to a woman in the neighbourhood, who kept a dingy
little curiosity shop. On payment of a week's rent in advance, she
allowed them a small bedroom. But Malcolm did not want Peter with
him that night; he wished to be perfectly free; and besides it was
more than desirable that Peter should go and look after the boat
and the boy.

Left alone he fell once more to his hitherto futile scheming:
How was he to get near his sister? To the whitest of lies he had
insuperable objection, and if he appeared before her with no reason
to give, would she not be far too offended with his presumption to
retain him in her service? And except he could be near her as her
servant, he did not see a chance of doing anything for her without
disclosing facts which might make all such service as he would most
gladly render her impossible, by causing her to hate the very sight
of him. Plan after plan rose and passed from his mind rejected, and
the only resolution he could come to was to write to Mr Soutar, to
whom he had committed the protection of Kelpie, to send her up by
the first smack from Aberdeen. He did so, and wrote also to Miss
Horn, telling her where he was, then went out, and made his way
back to Portland Place.

Night had closed in, and thick vapours hid the moon, but lamps and
lighted windows illuminated the wide street. Presently it began