Suddenly he heard the bark of a dog, and looking eagerly in the direction of the sound, he saw Ida Heron walking quickly round the hill, with Donald and Bess scampering in front of her.
The gloom vanished from Stafford's face, and he checked Adonis into a walk.

The dogs were the first to see him, and they tore towards him barking a welcome.

Ida looked up--she had been walking with her eyes bent on the ground--the colour rose to her face, and she stopped for an instant.

Then she came on slowly, and by the time they had met there was no trace of the transitory blush.
Stafford raised his hat and dismounted, and tried to speak in a casual tone; but it was difficult to conceal the subtle delight which sprang up within him at the sight of her; and he looked at the beautiful face and the slim, graceful figure in its tailor-made gown--which, well worn as it was, seemed to him to sit upon her as no other dress had ever sat upon any other woman--he had hard work to keep the admiration from his eyes.
"I begin to count myself a very lucky man, Miss Heron," he said.
"Why ?" she asked, her grave eyes resting on him calmly.
"Because I have chanced to meet you again." "It is not strange," she said.

"I am nearly always out-of-doors.