As she watched him, at first without recognition, she thought vaguely that his rugged figure made a picture of embodied activity, of physical energy and enjoyment.

The next minute he reached the old negress, glanced at her casually in passing, and turning abruptly round, lifted the basket, and carried it to the top of the hill.

Then, as he looked back at the old woman, who limped after him, he laughed with boyish merriment, and Corinna saw in amazement that the man was Gideon Vetch.
"He is obliged to be theatrical," remarked a voice behind her, and glancing over her shoulder she saw that she had been joined by a severe-looking young woman with several books under her arm.
"Is it that ?" asked Corinna doubtfully, and she added to herself after a moment, "I wonder ?" A little later, as she was leaving the Square, Stephen overtook her, and she told him of the incident.

"The Governor is always breaking out like an epidemic where you least expect him," she concluded with a smile.
"I know.

I've caught him." Though the young man's eyes reflected her smile, his tone was serious.