Dust began to form grimy circles around their orbits; with cat-like shivers she even felt it pervade the roots of her blonde hair.

Gradually her breath grew more rapid and hysterical, her smarting eyes became humid, and at last, encountering two observant horsemen in the road, she turned and fled, until, reaching the wood, she began to cry.
Nevertheless she waited for the two horsemen to pass, to satisfy herself that she was not followed; then pushed on vaguely, until she reached a fallen tree, where, with a gesture of disgust, she tore off her hapless duster and flung it on the ground.

She then sat down sobbing, but after a moment dried her eyes hurriedly and started to her feet.

A few paces distant, erect, noiseless, with outstretched hand, the young solitary of the Carquinez Woods advanced towards her.

His hand had almost touched hers, when he stopped.
"What has happened ?" he asked gravely.
"Nothing," she said, turning half away, and searching the ground with her eyes, as if she had lost something.