It was her habit to go there almost every day, and Bryce was well acquainted with her movements and knew precisely where to waylay her.

And empty of Bryce though her mind was, she was not surprised when, at a lonely place on Wrychester Common, Bryce turned the corner of a spinny and met her face to face.
Mary would have passed on with no more than a silent recognition--she had made up her mind to have no further speech with her guardian's dismissed assistant.

But she had to pass through a wicket gate at that point, and Bryce barred the way, with unmistakable purpose.

It was plain to the girl that he had laid in wait for her.

She was not without a temper of her own, and she suddenly let it out on the offender.
"Do you call this manly conduct, Dr.Bryce ?" she demanded, turning an indignant and flushed face on him.