At the same moment she heard Morten's heavy tread on the stone steps leading up to the front door: he must be returning from the stable.

It was time to go to bed, but still she remained at the window, looking towards the summer-house.

She now discovered two forms that were going slowly down the path which led to the wicket in the garden wall.

This path was fringed on both sides by high overgrown hedges, and she could only see the heads every now and then as they passed.

In the idea that it was one of the maids with her sweetheart, she was just going to shut the window.