I could, moreover, hear the stamping of a horse's hoof at a lumbering trot.
Those only whose hopes have been wrought up to a high pitch, and then suddenly cast down, can imagine what I felt at that moment; and yet when I returned to my lonely tent, and lay down on my hard pallet, the voice of conscience told me that the misery I was then undergoing I had fully merited, for the unkind manner in which I had intended to receive her, when for a brief moment I supposed that she had returned.
It was on the morning after this affair, and the fourth, if I forget not, from the time of Isopel's departure, that, as I was seated on my stone at the bottom of the dingle, getting my breakfast, I heard an unknown voice from the path above--apparently that of a person descending--exclaim, "Here's a strange place to bring a letter to;" and presently an old woman, with a belt round her middle, to which was attached a leathern bag, made her appearance, and stood before me.
"Well, if I ever!" said she, as she looked about her.

"My good gentlewoman," said I, "pray what may you please to want ?" "Gentlewoman!" said the old dame, "please to want--well, I call that speaking civilly, at any rate.

It is true, civil words cost nothing; nevertheless, we do not always get them.

What I please to want is to deliver a letter to a young man in this place; perhaps you be he ?" "What's the name on the letter ?" said I, getting up, and going to her.

"There's no name upon it," said she, taking a letter out of her scrip, and looking at it.