They were going to ride out together, and Evan, coming to his horse on the gravel walk, saw her talking with Drummond Forth.

He mounted, awaiting her, and either from a slight twinge of jealousy, or to mark her dainty tread with her riding-habit drawn above her heels, he could not help turning his head occasionally.

She listened to Drummond with attention, but presently broke from him, crying: 'It's an absurdity.

Speak to them yourself--I shall not.' On the ride that day, she began prattling of this and that with the careless glee that became her well, and then sank into a reverie.
Between-whiles her eyes had raised tumults in Evan's breast by dropping on him in a sort of questioning way, as if she wished him to speak, or wished to fathom something she would rather have unspoken.

Ere they had finished their ride, she tossed off what burden may have been on her mind as lightly as a stray lock from her shoulders.