Rhoda turned, and walked a few steps away.
When Mrs.Lodge came out, and her face was met by the light, it appeared exceedingly pale--as pale as Rhoda's--against the sad dun shades of the upland's garniture.

Trendle shut the door behind her, and they at once started homeward together.

But Rhoda perceived that her companion had quite changed.
'Did he charge much ?' she asked tentatively.
'O no--nothing.

He would not take a farthing,' said Gertrude.
'And what did you see ?' inquired Rhoda.
'Nothing I--care to speak of.' The constraint in her manner was remarkable; her face was so rigid as to wear an oldened aspect, faintly suggestive of the face in Rhoda's bed-chamber.
'Was it you who first proposed coming here ?' Mrs.Lodge suddenly inquired, after a long pause.

'How very odd, if you did!' 'No.