The news of the scattering of the Everards had dissipated his hope of hearing of her; but here she was.
So they met--there, alone, on the open down by a pond, just as if the meeting had been carefully arranged.
She threw up her veil.

She was still beautiful, though the years had touched her; a little more matronly--much more homely.

Or was it only that he was much less homely now--a man of the world--the sense of homeliness being relative?
Her face had grown to be pre-eminently of the sort that would be called interesting.

Her habiliments were of a demure and sober cast, though she was one who had used to dress so airily and so gaily.

Years had laid on a few shadows too in this.
'I received your letter,' she said, when the momentary embarrassment of their first approach had passed.