Since his arrival at the cottage, Mrs.Woodward had found an excuse for a later breakfast in the necessity of taking it with her uncle; so that the young people were generally left alone.

Linda was the family tea-maker, and was, therefore, earliest down; and Alaric being the first on this morning to leave the hotel, found her alone in the dining-room.
He had never renewed the disclosure of his passion; but Linda had thought that whenever he shook hands with her since that memorable walk, she had always felt a more than ordinary pressure.

This she had been careful not to return, but she had not the heart to rebuke it.

Now, when he bade her good morning, he certainly held her hand in his longer than he need have done.
He looked at her too, as though his looks meant something more than ordinary looking; at least so Linda thought; but yet he said nothing, and so Linda, slightly trembling, went on with the adjustment of her tea-tray.
'It will be all over, Linda, when we meet again,' said Alaric.
His mind she found was intent on his examination, not on his love.

But this was natural, was as it should be.