And she would never believe but that he loved her still.

This was only a wicked turn of those bad forces which she knew were abroad in the world.

Had she not seen evil once in a man's face crouching in the bracken, as he set a trap for some poor hare one dark and starry night?
And she had passed on, and then, when she thought he would be gone, she had returned and loosened the spring before it could do any harm.

That poacher had evil forces round him.

They were there always for the unwary, and had fastened upon John.