The Hermit of Far End

ays, holding a foretaste of June's smil

ugh the straggling woods that intervened betwixt the Selwyns' house and Monk's Cliff, felt th

ange a sketching party, and, as the morning's post had brought Sara a letter from Elisabeth Durward which had occasioned her consider

e habit had grown with her growth, so that now, when a rather bigger tangle presented itself, she turned instinctively to the solitude of the cl

like a baby's fist, while the primroses, bunched together in clusters, thrust peering faces impertinently above the green carpet of the woods. Sara s

mpting resting-place, and flinging herself down on the yielding

hip and understanding between mother and son was so deep that it was very possible that Tim had taken her into his confidence. And even if he had

e, there was little doubt that she would look askance at the

between the lines, the conviction was borne in upon Sara that Elisabeth knew all th

f Tim, and, had she been a different type of woman, the simil

ly inscrutable eyes, would irradiate with a sudden warmth and tenderness of emotion that was akin to the exquisite rapture of a l

ortable at Monkshaven, recalling their pleasant time at Barrow together, and looking forw

ally as easily be read, which had aroused in Sara a certain uneasy instinct of apprehension. Dimly she sensed

impid clearness of perception rather uncommon in a girl of twenty. She also recognized that it was within the bounds of possibility that the one man might never come to claim that place, and that, if she gave Tim the answer he so arde

als, ignorant of the overpowering influences which may develop to push a man or woman this way or that, or of the pain that may turn clear, defi

ite explain why-and just now she felt averse to wrestling with disturbing ideas. She only wanted to l

lulled by the drowsy rhythm of the waves brea

instant and shivering a little. It had turned much colder, and a wind had risen which whispered round her of comin

the direction of home. But she was too late to avoid the storm which had been brewing, and before sh

ed deluge, but within ten minutes of the first heralding drops it was upon

er side of a low stone wall, what she took to be a wooden shelter for cattle, she

ughly constructed summer-house, open on one side to the four winds

yed servant was likely to be abroad in such a downpour as this, and that, even if they were, and chanced to discover her, they could hardl

figure of a man emerge from some trees, a few hundred yards distant, and come towards her, and despite the fact that he was wearing a raincoat, with the collar turned up t

ers of one hand he drummed on his chest as though beating out the rhythm of the melody he was whistling-a wild, passion

t to welcome it, for more than once Sara saw him raise his head as t

ight turn aside without observing her, since, from all accounts, Garth T

r he stopped abruptly and peered through the driving rain in the direction of the summer-house. Then, q

n at her with an odd glint of amusement in his eyes. "S

t it was that induced it. In both eyes the clear hazel of the iris was broken by a tiny, irregularly shaped patch of vivid blue, close to the pupil, and its effect was to give that cur

r indignant recollection of the man's churlis

nt at the back of his eyes, and she was annoyed to feel herself fl

faculty for intrusio

eyes

cy for solitude

oblige me by considering it?" And he drew politely

n, which was still descending in torre

g to insist on my starting ou

ght to be here at all-that you're

t that any one in the world would object

her people," he replied comp

indeed," agre

faint smile. "Oh, well," he went on ungraciously, "stay if

esire, and, lifting his cap, he tu

to the open front of the summer-house, staring up moodily at the heavy clouds. They showed no signs of breaking, and she was just about to resume her weary waiting

o hours yet," he said abruptly. "

e invitation was so totally unexpected th

misinterpreting her silence, "y

ld," she replied promptly, prepar

out the coat he had brought with him. "There's

nner whilst performing these small services. He was so altogether business-like and unconcerned that Sara felt not unlike a child being dressed by a conscientious b

remark until they had accomplished the journey to the house, and were standing

lazing half-way up the chimney, he rang for his servant and issued orders for tea to be brought,

nt as he retreated to carry out his master's instructions, and with a vi

-with a glance towards her feet-"you

though he were a drill-sergeant, Sara reflected-that aroused her t

replied airily. "Th

ithout vouchsafing any answer, he knelt down beside her and began to unlace her shoes, finally drawing them off a

curtly. "Those silk absurd

spran

d firmly. "Th

mocking amusement with which he had first

ave a bad cold?

ather!" retorte

ld not help himself, and, with a shrug of his

ste and love of beauty which the room supplied. It was not quite the sort of abode she

pattern china on the old oak dresser, the dimly lustrous pewter perched upon the chimney-piece, the silver candle-sconces thrusting out curved, gleaming arms from th

s all at once sensible of how desperately she had missed the quiet perfection of the service at Barrow. The nostalgia for her

old memories, she got up restlessly, driven by a sudden impul

a swift, sea

ting a towel and a pair of men's woolen socks on the f

owards her, while she obeyed his instructions. When she had hung two very damp black silk stoc

ack," she said

y socks protruding from beneath the short, tweed

ter a brief silence. "You shy wildly at the idea of letting a man see the foot God gave you, but you'v

t; it was as though the speech were ti

s surveyed

king an exhibit of my he

and at that moment Judson came into the room and beg

ld be placed near his guest, and Judson, his face manifesting rather more surprise than is

rtains and lighting the candles in their silver sconces, so that little pools of yellow light splashe

ly towards the door, Trent

le of hours-at six," he said, and smi