The young lady remained in his thoughts.

He might have followed her; but he was not constitutionally active, and preferred a conjectural pursuit.

However, when he went out for a ramble just before dusk he insensibly took the direction of Hintock House, which was the way that Grace had been walking, it having happened that her mind had run on Mrs.Charmond that day, and she had walked to the brow of a hill whence the house could be seen, returning by another route.
Fitzpiers in his turn reached the edge of the glen, overlooking the manor-house.

The shutters were shut, and only one chimney smoked.

The mere aspect of the place was enough to inform him that Mrs.Charmond had gone away and that nobody else was staying there.