They had been very intimate as girls, but had not met for years--hardly since the former married sir John, the son of one of King James's carpet-knights.

Hearing of her cousin's illness, she had come to visit her at last, under the escort of her son.

Taken with his new cousin, the youth had lingered and lingered; and in fact Dorothy had been unable to get rid of him before an hour strange for leave-taking in such a quiet and yet hospitable neighbourhood.
Richard took his stand on the side of the public road opposite the gate; but just ere Scudamore came, which was hardly a minute after, a cloud crept over the moon, and, as he happened to stand in a line with the bole of a tree, Scudamore did not catch sight of him.

When he turned to walk along the road, Richard thought he avoided him, and, making a great stride or two after him, called aloud-- 'Stop, sir, stop.

You forget your appointments over easily, I think.' 'Oh, you ARE there!' said the youth, turning.
'I am glad you acknowledge my presence,' said Richard, not the better pleased with his new acquaintance that his speech and behaviour had an easy tone of superiority, which, if indefinably felt by the home-bred lad, was not therefore to be willingly accorded.