Then they talked of 'Lina, Hugh telling Alice of her intention to pass the winter with Mrs.Ellsworth, and speaking also of Irving Stanley.
"By the way, Ad writes that Irving was interested in you, and you in him," Hugh said, rather abruptly, stealing a glance at Alice, who answered frankly: "I can hardly say that I know much of him, though once, long ago--" She paused here, and Hugh waited anxiously for what she would say next.
But Alice, changing her mind, only added: "I esteem Mr.Stanley very highly.

He is a gentleman, a scholar and a Christian." "You like him better for that, I suppose--better for being a Christian, I mean," Hugh replied, a little bitterly.
"Oh, yes, so much better," and reining her horse closer to Hugh, Alice rode very slowly, while in earnest tones she urged on Hugh the one great thing he needed.

"You are not offended ?" she asked, as he continued silent.
"No, oh, no.

I never had any religious teaching, only once; an angel flitted across my path, leaving a track of glorious sunshine, but the clouds have been there since, and the sunshine is most all gone." Alice knew he referred to the maiden of whose existence Mug had told her, and she longed to ask him of her.

Who was she, and where was she now?
Alas, that she should have been so deceived, or that Hugh, when she finally did ask, "Who was the angel that crossed his path ?" should answer evasively.
Just before turning into the Spring Bank fields, a horseman came dashing down the pike, checking his steed a moment as he drew near, and then, with a savage frown, spurring on his foam-covered horse, muttering between his teeth a curse on Hugh Worthington.
"That was Harney ?" Alice said, stopping a moment outside the gate to look after him as he went tearing down the pike.
"Yes, that was Harney," Hugh replied.