As he did so, he noted the rare beauty of that brilliant face--he remembered the longing words.
"No wonder," he thought; "it is a sin for such a face as that to be hidden here." The beauty of those magnificent eyes startled him.

Who was she?
What could she be doing here?
Beatrice turning again, saw the stranger looking eagerly after her, with profound admiration expressed in every feature of his face; and that admiring gaze, the first she had ever received in her life, sank deep into the vain, girlish heart.
He watched the graceful, slender figure until the turn of the road hid Beatrice from his view.

He followed her at a safe distance, and saw her cross the long meadows that led to the Elms.

Then Hugh Fernely waited with patience until one of the farm laborers came by.

By judicious questioning he discovered much of the history of the beautiful young girl who longed for life.