She could not wander far from him to-day.
After the early dinner he escaped, just as the vicar's wife was devising an excuse on which to convey both him and herself to Burwood, and sallied forth with a mackintosh for a rush down the Whinborough road.

It was still raining, but the clouds showed a momentary lightening, and a few gleams of watery sunshine brought out every now and then that sparkle on the trees, that iridescent beauty of distance and atmosphere which goes so far to make a sensitive spectator forget the petulant abundance of mountain rain.

Elsmere passed Burwood with a thrill.

Should he or should he not present himself?
Let him push on a bit and think.
So on he swung, measuring his tall frame against the gusts, spirits and masculine energy rising higher with every step.

At last the passion of his mood had wrestled itself out with the weather, and he turned back once more determined to seek and find her, to face his fortunes like a man.