VII

rshadbroughttogetherinthestandinthehall,andgoboldlyandaskthemanNeumannifhehaddroppeditinthechurchyard.ThemanNeumannwouldrepudiatetheumbrella,perhapswithsecretindignation,buthewouldbeforcedtopretendhewasgrateful,andwhoknewwhatluckmightnotdoforhimafterthat? WhileRobinwasplotting,andhismotherwasplotting,thatthenextdaywouldcertainlyseetheminsideBaker's,athirdpersonwastryingtodoexactlythesamethingatSymfordHallandthisthirdpersonwasnootherthanAugustus,thehopeofalltheShuttleworths.Augustus—hewasknowntohisfriendsbrieflyasTussie—hadbeenridinghomewardslatethatafternoon,veryslowly,forhewasananxiousyoungmanwhospentmuchofhistimedodgingthingslikebeingoverheated,whenhesawafemalefigurewalkingtowardshimalongthelonelyroad.HewasupontheheathaboveSymford,asolitaryplaceofheather,andgorsebushes,andwindingroadsthatleadwithmanyhesitationsanddelaystodifferentpartsofExmoor,andhehimselfwithhisbacktothatwildregionandthesunsetwasgoing,aseverysensiblepersonwouldbegoingatthattimeoftheevening,inthedirectionofthevillageandhome.Butwherecouldthegirlbegoing?Forhenowsawitwasagirl,andinaminuteortwomorethatitwasabeautifulgirl.WiththegoldenglowoftheskythesunhadjustleftonherfacePriscillacametowardshimoutofthegatheringduskofapproachingevening,andTussie,whohadapoeticsoul,gazedatthevisionopenmouthed.Seeinghim,shequickenedhersteps,andhetookoffhiscapeagerlywhensheaskedhimtotellherwhereSymfordwas."I'velostit,"shesaid,lookingupathim. "I'mgoingthroughitmyself,"heanswered."Willyouletmeshowyoutheway?" "Thankyou,"saidPriscillaandhegotoffhishorseandsheturnedandwalkedbesidehimwiththesameunruffledindifferencewithwhichshewouldhavewalkedbesidetheCountessDisthalorinfrontofanattendinglacquey.Nordidshespeak,forshewasbusythinkingofFritzingandhopinghewasnotbeingtooanxiousabouther,andTussie(Goddefendhisinnocence)thoughtshewasshy.Sosurewasheastheminutespastthathersilencewasanembarrassedonethatheputanendtoitbyremarkingonthebeautyoftheevening,andPriscillawhohadentirelyforgottenMissSchultzgavehimtheiciestlookasareminderthatitwasnothisplacetospeakfirst.ItwaslostonTussieasareminder,fornaturallyitdidnotremindhimofanything,andheputitdownatfirsttothegirl'sbeingillateasealoneuptherewithastrangeman,andperhapstoherfeelingshehadbetterkeephimatarm'slength.Aglanceatherprofilehoweverdispelledthisillusiononceandforever,forneverwasprofileofaprofoundercalm.Shewaswalkingnowwithherfaceinshadow,andtheglowbehindherplayedstrangeandglorioustrickswithherhair.Helookedather,andlooked,andnotbythequiverofaneyelashdidsheshowshewasawareofanybody'spresence.Hereyeswerefixedontheground,andshewasdeepinthoughttingedwithremorsefulnessthatsheshouldhavecomeuphereinsteadofgoingstraighthomet