He returned her gaze steadily, smiling gravely.

She had never seen him looking so well.

He had put in the summer grooming himself, he had kept up the house and garden, and spent all his spare time on the ravine, and farming on the shares with his mother's sister who lived three miles east of them.

At last she roused herself and again looked at him.
"I had your letter this morning," she said.
"I was wondering about that," he replied.
"Yes, I got it just before I started," said Kate.

"Are you surprised to see me ?" "No," he answered.