He felt baffled and perplexed, for he knew that he stood apart, excluded from their companionship by something he could not define.

So intolerable did this feeling become that he resolved to break through it, and made a hasty movement to sit down beside them; but, as he stepped forward, he was suddenly aware that there was another man in the place he would have taken, embracing and protecting the girl.

He swore a loud oath, and flung himself backwards to stand by the hedge on the opposite side of the road, that he might the better review the situation.

It was all as it had been before--that quiet autumn landscape--only the woman appeared much interested in his sudden movements.
'What was't ye seed; was't a snaike ?' she inquired loudly, at the same time moving her skirts to look for that dangerous reptile.
'No,' he shouted, putting his whole energy into the word.
'What was't ye seed, cutting them capers as if ye was shot, an' saying o' words neyther fit fur heaven above nor earth beneath ?' So loudly did she ask, and so resolutely did she wait for an answer, that he was forced into speech.

'I don't know,' he said, with another oath, milder than the first.
'Well, sure enow,' she said, still speaking loudly, ''ere's somethin' awful queer, ye says yer a man that's got larning more ner parson, an' ye sees somethin', an' can't tell what ye's seed.