When, however, they had gone about three-quarters of the distance, they became conscious of an irregular footfall in front of them, and could see a whitish figure in the gloom.

They followed dubiously.

The figure met another wayfarer--the single one that had been encountered upon this lonely road--and they distinctly heard him ask the way to Narrobourne.

The stranger replied--what was quite true--that the nearest way was by turning in at the stile by the next bridge, and following the footpath which branched thence across the meadows.
When the brothers reached the stile they also entered the path, but did not overtake the subject of their worry till they had crossed two or three meads, and the lights from Narrobourne manor-house were visible before them through the trees.

Their father was no longer walking; he was seated against the wet bank of an adjoining hedge.