The vicar was rather surprised to see him again so soon: Mrs.Swancourt was not.

Knight found, on meeting them all, after his arrival had been announced, that they had formed an intention to go to St.Leonards for a few days at the end of the month.
No satisfactory conjuncture offered itself on this first evening of his return for presenting Elfride with what he had been at such pains to procure.

He was fastidious in his reading of opportunities for such an intended act.

The next morning chancing to break fine after a week of cloudy weather, it was proposed and decided that they should all drive to Barwith Strand, a local lion which neither Mrs.Swancourt nor Knight had seen.

Knight scented romantic occasions from afar, and foresaw that such a one might be expected before the coming night.
The journey was along a road by neutral green hills, upon which hedgerows lay trailing like ropes on a quay.