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the evening sun。 She was about to return before dusk came on； when
she heard a commotion in the air immediately behind and above her
head。 The saunterer looked up and saw a wild…duck flying along with
the greatest violence； just in its rear being another large bird；
which a countryman would have pronounced to be one of the biggest
duck…hawks that he had ever beheld。 The hawk neared its intended
victim； and the duck screamed and redoubled its efforts。
Ethelberta impulsively started off in a rapid run that would have
made a little dog bark with delight and run after； her object being；
if possible； to see the end of this desperate struggle for a life so
small and unheard…of。 Her stateliness went away； and it could be
forgiven for not remaining； for her feet suddenly became as quick as
fingers； and she raced along over the uneven ground with such force
of tread that； being a woman slightly heavier than gossamer； her
patent heels punched little D's in the soil with unerring accuracy
wherever it was bare； crippled the heather…twigs where it was not；
and sucked the swampy places with a sound of quick kisses。
Her rate of advance was not to be compared with that of the two
birds； though she went swiftly enough to keep them well in sight in
such an open place as that around her； having at one point in the
journey been so near that she could hear the whisk of the duck's
feathers against the wind as it lifted and lowered its wings。 When
the bird seemed to be but a few yards from its enemy she saw it
strike downwards； and after a level flight of a quarter of a minute；
vanish。 The hawk swooped after； and Ethelberta now perceived a
whitely shining oval of still water； looking amid the swarthy level
of the heath like a hole through to a nether sky。
Into this large pond； which the duck had been making towards from
the beginning of its precipitate flight； it had dived out of sight。
The excited and breathless runner was in a few moments close enough
to see the disappointed hawk hovering and floating in the air as if
waiting for the reappearance of its prey； upon which grim pastime it
was so intent that by creeping along softly she was enabled to get
very near the edge of the pool and witness the conclusion of the
episode。 Whenever the duck was under the necessity of showing its
head to breathe； the other bird would dart towards it； invariably
too late； however； for the diver was far too experienced in the
rough humour of the buzzard family at this game to come up twice
near the same spot； unaccountably emerging from opposite sides of
the pool in succession； and bobbing again by the time its adversary
reached each place； so that at length the hawk gave up the contest
and flew away； a satanic moodiness being almost perceptible in the
motion of its wings。
The young lady now looked around her for the first time； and began
to perceive that she had run a long distancevery much further than
she had originally intended to come。 Her eyes had been so long
fixed upon the hawk； as it soared against the bright and mottled
field of sky； that on regarding the heather and plain again it was
as if she had returned to a half…forgotten region after an absence；
and the whole prospect was darkened to one uniform shade of
approaching night。 She began at once to retrace her steps； but
having been indiscriminately wheeling round the pond to get a good
view of the performance； and having followed no path thither； she
found the proper direction of her journey to be a matter of some
uncertainty。
'Surely；' she said to herself； 'I faced the north at starting：' and
yet on walking now with her back where her face had been set； she
did not approach any marks on the horizon which might seem to
signify the town。 Thus dubiously； but with little real concern； she
walked on till the evening light began to turn to dusk； and the
shadows to darkness。
Presently in front of her Ethelberta saw a white spot in the shade；
and it proved to be in some way attached to the head of a man who
was coming towards her out of a slight depression in the ground。 It
was as yet too early in the evening to be afraid； but it was too
late to be altogether courageous； and with balanced sensations
Ethelberta kept her eye sharply upon him as he rose by degrees into
view。 The peculiar arrangement of his hat and pugree soon struck
her as being that she had casually noticed on a peg in one of the
rooms of the 'Red Lion；' and when he came close she saw that his
arms diminished to a peculiar smallness at their junction with his
shoulders； like those of a doll； which was explained by their being
girt round at that point with the straps of a knapsack that he
carried behind him。 Encouraged by the probability that he； like
herself； was staying or had been staying at the 'Red Lion；' she
said； 'Can you tell me if this is the way back to Anglebury？'
'It is one way； but the nearest is in this direction；' said the
touristthe same who had been criticized by the two old men。
At hearing him speak all the delicate activities in the young lady's
person stood still： she stopped like a clock。 When she could again
fence with the perception which had caused all this； she breathed。
'Mr。 Julian！' she exclaimed。 The words were uttered in a way which
would have told anybody in a moment that here lay something
connected with the light of other days。
'Ah； Mrs。 Petherwin！Yes； I am Mr。 Julianthough that can matter
very little； I should think； after all these years； and what has
passed。'
No remark was returned to this rugged reply； and he continued
unconcernedly； 'Shall I put you in the pathit is just here？'
'If you please。'
'Come with me； then。'
She walked in silence at his heels； not a word passing between them
all the way： the only noises which came from the two were the
brushing of her dress and his gaiters against the heather； or the
smart rap of a stray flint against his boot。
They had now reached a little knoll； and he turned abruptly： 'That
is Angleburyjust where you see those lights。 The path down there
is the one you must follow； it leads round the hill yonder and
directly into the town。'
'Thank you；' she murmured； and found that he had never removed his
eyes from her since speaking； keeping them fixed with mathematical
exactness upon one point in her face。 She moved a little to go on
her way； he moved a little lessto go on his。
'Good…night；' said Mr。 Julian。
The moment； upon the very face of it； was critical； and yet it was
one of those which have to wait for a future before they acquire a
definite character as good or bad。
Thus much would have been obvious to any outsider； it may have been
doubly so to Ethelberta； for she gave back more than she had got；
replying； 'Good…byeif you are going to say no more。'
Then in struck Mr。 Julian： 'What can I say？ You are nothing to me。
。 。 。 I could forgive a woman doing anything for spite； except
marrying for spite。'
'The connection of that with our present meeting does not appear；
unless it refers to what you have done。 It does not refer to me。'
'I am not married： you are。'
She did not contradict him； as she mi