But another person, by no means disposed to regard it in an equally favourable light became acquainted with the intelligence at the same time.

This was Master Potts, who instantly set his wits at work to discover its import.

Ever on the alert, his little eyes, sharp as needles, had detected Jennet amongst the rustic company, and he now made his way towards her, resolved, by dint of cross-questioning and otherwise, to extract all the information he possibly could from her.
The dance over, Richard and his partner wandered towards a more retired part of the hall.
"Why does your sister shun me ?" inquired Alizon, with a look of great distress.

"What can I have done to offend her?
Whenever I regard her she averts her head, and as I approached her just now, she moved away, making it evident she designed to avoid me.

If I could think myself in any way different from what I was this morning, when she treated me with such unbounded confidence and kindness, or accuse myself of any offence towards her, even in thought, I could understand it; but as it is, her present coldness appears inexplicable and unreasonable, and gives me great pain.