A day or two after Ralph Ray's departure, Rotha had gone in search of her father, and had brought him back with her.

She had given him his work to do, and had tried to interest him in his occupations.

But a sense of dependence seemed to cling to him, and at times he had the look of some wild creature of the hills which had been captured indeed, but was watching his opportunity of escape.
Sim rose at daybreak, and, wet or dry, he first went up on to the hills.

In an hour or two he was back again.

Rotha understood his purpose, but no word of explanation passed between them.