It was a glorious afternoon; and nature heaped its peculiar consolations on her; so that she never thought of returning until the sun was close to the horizon.

As she came, tired, through the plantation, with the evening glow and the light wind, in which the branches were rustling and the leaves dropping, lulling her luxuriously, she heard some one striding swiftly along the path behind.
She looked back; but there was a curve in the way; and she could not see who was coming.

Then it occurred to her that it might be Conolly.
Dreading to face him after what had happened, she stole aside among the trees a little way, and sat down on a stone, hoping that he might pass by without seeing her.

The next moment he came round the curve, looking so resolute and vigorous that her heart became fainter as she watched him.

Just opposite where she sat, he stopped, having a clear view of the path ahead for some distance, and appeared puzzled.