She was very often reduced to the necessity of taking a story-book as companion of her leisure hours, now that Mark would have nothing to do with her.

This afternoon Phyllis and Nell were out driving with their mother, and Miss Davis had seized the opportunity to write letters.
Hetty was therefore thrown on her own resources and was roaming about with a book.

She would have rushed away to Mrs.Kane's at once, but she knew that this was John Kane's dinner hour.

But half an hour hence she would set off for the village, and have a nice long chat with her foster-mother.
Hetty descended the winding path with her eyes on her book, and before she saw him, nearly stumbled against Mark.
"Do you mean to walk over a fellow ?" said Mark in an aggrieved tone.
"Oh, Mark, I beg your pardon.

I did not know you were here.