She excused herself by saying that it was owing to the exertion of walking over the rough path.

Therefore they halted, and, with the bright summer moonbeams falling upon her beautiful countenance, he kissed her passionately upon the lips again and yet again.
They remained together for over an hour, moving along slowly, heedless of where their footsteps led them; heedless, too, of being seen by any of the keepers who, at night, usually patrolled the estate.

Their walk, however, lay at the farther end of the glen, in the coverts remote from the house and nearer the high-road; therefore there was but little danger of being observed.
Many were the pledges of affection they exchanged before parting.

On Walter's part they were fervent and passionate, but on the part of his idol they were, alas! only the pretence of a happiness which she feared could never be permanent.
Presently they retraced their steps to the edge of the wood beyond which lay the house.

They found the path, and there, at her request, he left her.