Charnock stood looking at her with a half-embarrassed smile.
"Bob!" she exclaimed.

"I didn't think I'd ever meet you." "I hope it wasn't a shock, and we were bound to meet sooner or later.
The distance between our homesteads isn't great." Helen had heard where his homestead was.

Indeed, Festing had told her that if he had known Charnock was coming to Donaldson's farm, he would have located farther off.

She would sooner have avoided the meeting, but since it had happened, she must not cut it too short.
"But what is the handkerchief for ?" she asked.

"And why were you lying there ?" "It's a signal of distress.