At the next turn of the path he caught again the glimpse of coloured stuff and of a woman's black hair before him.

He hastened his pace and came in full view of the object of his pursuit.

The woman, who was carrying two bamboo vessels full of water, heard his footsteps, stopped, and putting the bamboos down half turned to look back.

Willems also stood still for a minute, then walked steadily on with a firm tread, while the woman moved aside to let him pass.

He kept his eyes fixed straight before him, yet almost unconsciously he took in every detail of the tall and graceful figure.
As he approached her the woman tossed her head slightly back, and with a free gesture of her strong, round arm, caught up the mass of loose black hair and brought it over her shoulder and across the lower part of her face.