He was getting more and more restless for want of some excitement.  A mad gallop, a visit to Mrs. Blanche Creamer, who had taken such a fancy to him, or a chat with the Widow Rowens, who was very lively in her talk, for all her sombre colors, and reminded him a good deal of some of his earlier friends, the senoritas,—­all these were distractions, to be sure, but not enough to keep his fiery spirit from fretting itself in longings for more dangerous excitements.  The thought of getting a knowledge of all Mr. Bernard’s ways, so that he would be in his power at any moment, was a happy one.

For some days after this he followed Elsie at a long distance behind, to watch her until she got to the school-house.  One day he saw Mr. Bernard join her:  a mere accident, very probably, for it was only once this happened.  She came on her homeward way alone,—­quite apart from the groups of girls who strolled out of the school-house yard in company.  Sometimes she was behind them all,—­which was suggestive.  Could she have stayed to meet the schoolmaster?

If he could have smuggled himself into the school, he would have liked to watch her there, and see if there was not some understanding between her and the master which betrayed itself by look or word.  But this was beyond the limits of his audacity, and he had to content himself with such cautious observations as could be made at a distance.  With the aid of a pocket-glass he could make out persons without the risk of being observed himself.

Mr. Silas Peckham’s corps of instructors was not expected to be off duty or to stand at ease for any considerable length of time.  Sometimes Mr. Bernard, who had more freedom than the rest, would go out for a ramble in the day-time; but more frequently it would be in the evening, after the hour of “retiring,” as bed-time was elegantly termed by the young ladies of the Apollinean Institute.  He would then not unfrequently walk out alone in the common roads, or climb up the sides of The Mountain, which seemed to be one of his favorite resorts.  Here, of course, it was impossible to follow him with the eye at a distance.  Dick had a hideous, gnawing suspicion that somewhere in these deep shades the schoolmaster might meet Elsie, whose evening wanderings he knew so well.  But of this he was not able to assure himself.  Secrecy was necessary to his present plans, and he could not compromise himself by over-eager curiosity.  One thing he learned with certainty.  The master returned, after his walk one evening, and entered the building where his room was situated.  Presently a light betrayed the window of his apartment.  From a wooded bank, some thirty or forty rods from this building, Dick Venner could see the interior of the chamber, and watch the master as he sat at his desk, the light falling strongly upon his face, intent upon the book or manuscript before him.  Dick contemplated him very long in this attitude.  The sense of watching his every motion, himself meanwhile utterly unseen, was delicious.  How little the master was thinking what eyes were on him!