CHAPTER V.
A quarter of an hour brought her into the High Street, and for want of a more important errand she called at the harness-maker's for a dog-collar that she required.
It happened to be market-day, and Nicholas, having postponed the engagements which called him thither to keep the appointment with her in the Sallows, rushed off at the end of the afternoon to attend to them as well as he could.

Arriving thus in a great hurry on account of the lateness of the hour, he still retained the wild, amphibious appearance which had marked him when he came up from the meadows to her side--an exceptional condition of things which had scarcely ever before occurred.
When she crossed the pavement from the shop door, the shopman bowing and escorting her to the carriage, Nicholas chanced to be standing at the road-waggon office, talking to the master of the waggons.

There were a good many people about, and those near paused and looked at her transit, in the full stroke of the level October sun, which went under the brims of their hats, and pierced through their button-holes.

From the group she heard murmured the words: 'Mrs.Nicholas Long.' The unexpected remark, not without distinct satire in its tone, took her so greatly by surprise that she was confounded.

Nicholas was by this time nearer, though coming against the sun he had not yet perceived her.
Influenced by her father's lecture, she felt angry with him for being there and causing this awkwardness.