'I wondered whether I should meet you.' Then, more dryly, 'How do you do, Mr Milvain ?' In a tone of easy indifference Jasper explained how he came to be accompanying Miss Yule.
'Shall I walk on with you, father ?' Marian asked, scrutinising his rugged features.
'Just as you please; I don't know that I should have gone much further.
But we might take another way back.' Jasper readily adapted himself to the wish he discerned in Mr Yule; at once he offered leave-taking in the most natural way.

Nothing was said on either side about another meeting.
The young man proceeded homewards, but, on arriving, did not at once enter the house.

Behind the garden was a field used for the grazing of horses; he entered it by the unfastened gate, and strolled idly hither and thither, now and then standing to observe a poor worn-out beast, all skin and bone, which had presumably been sent here in the hope that a little more labour might still be exacted from it if it were suffered to repose for a few weeks.

There were sores upon its back and legs; it stood in a fixed attitude of despondency, just flicking away troublesome flies with its grizzled tail.
It was tea-time when he went in.

Maud was not at home, and Mrs Milvain, tormented by a familiar headache, kept her room; so Jasper and Dora sat down together.