It rushed past them, causing Paula's dress, hair, and ribbons to flutter violently, and blowing up the fallen leaves in a shower over their shoulders.
Neither spoke, and they went up several steps, holding each other by the hand, till, becoming conscious of the fact, she withdrew hers; whereupon Somerset stopped and looked earnestly at her; but her eyes were averted towards the tunnel wall.
'What an escape!' he said.
'We were not so very near, I think, were we ?' she asked quickly.

'If we were, I think you were--very good to take my hand.' They reached the top at last, and the new level and open air seemed to give her a new mind.

'I don't see the carriage anywhere,' she said, in the common tones of civilization.
He thought it had gone over the crest of the hill; he would accompany her till they reached it.
'No--please--I would rather not--I can find it very well.' Before he could say more she had inclined her head and smiled and was on her way alone.
The tunnel-cutting appeared a dreary gulf enough now to the young man, as he stood leaning over the rails above it, beating the herbage with his stick.

For some minutes he could not criticize or weigh her conduct; the warmth of her presence still encircled him.

He recalled her face as it had looked out at him from under the white silk puffing of her black hat, and the speaking power of her eyes at the moment of danger.