’Evangeline saw her way all clear when she reached the mountain-top,’ she said musingly; ’but mine looks misty enough.  Mr. Falkirk, will this fog clear away before sunset?’

‘Or settle down into rain.’

But while he spoke, the sun mounting higher, shot through the very heart of the mist; and the broken clouds began to roll away in golden vapour, or were furled and drawn up with bands of light.  And now came voices from the piazza.

‘You knew it last night, Mr. Kingsland? and never told me!’ said an oldish lady.  ’And there is the sweet creature this minute, on the rock!’

Wych Hazel sprang to her feet.  ‘Mr. Falkirk,’ she said, ’you are inquired for;’—­and darting past him she vanished round the house.  Mr. Falkirk, as in duty bound, followed, but when a needful point of view was attained, his charge was nowhere within sight, and he returned to the house to be in readiness to meet her when the bell should ring for breakfast.

But a couple of hours later, when the bell rang, Miss Hazel was not forthcoming.  The guests gathered to the breakfast-room.  Mr. Falkirk remained in the empty hall, pacing up and down from door to door, then went to see if Wych Hazel were by chance in her room.  Mrs. Saddler was in consternation, having heard nothing of her.  Mr. Falkirk returned to his walk in the hall, chaffing a little now with something that was not patience.  Presently Rollo came down the stairs.

‘Good morning.’

‘Good morning.’

‘Exercise before breakfast?—­Or after?’

‘Not after,’ said Mr. Falkirk; ‘but you are late as it is.’

’Better late, if you can’t be early.  You have a better chance.  I will wait with you, if you are waiting.’

‘Don’t wait for me,’ said Mr. Falkirk, shortly.  ’I have no idea when I shall be ready.’

’I had no idea, a little while ago, when I should.  By the way, I hope Miss Kennedy is well, this morning?’

‘I hope so.’

‘She is not down yet?’

’She has been down, and I have not heard of her going up again.’

‘In the breakfast-room, perhaps,’ said the young man.  And passing on, he made his way thither, while Mr. Falkirk stood at the hall door.  No, Miss Kennedy was not in the breakfast-room; and instead of sitting down Mr. Rollo went out by another way, picking up a roll from the table as he passed, and wrapping it in a napkin.  He took a straight course to the woods, over the grass, where no uninstructed eye could see that the dew had been brushed away by a lighter foot than his.  But if lighter, hardly so swift as the springy stride and leap which carried him over yards of the rough way at a bound, and cleared obstacles that would have hindered, at least slightly, most other people.  The mountain was quickly won in this style, and Rollo gained a high ledge where the ground lay more level.  He went deliberately here, and used a pair of eyes as quick as might match