By-and-by she discovered that Madame Carlat and the women, who had their place a little apart, had disappeared; and affrighted by the solitude and silence--for neither of which she was made--she sprang up and stared about her, hoping to discern them.

Right and left, however, the sweep of hillside curved upward to the skyline, lonely and untenanted; behind her the castled rock frowned down on the rugged gorge and filled it with dispiriting shadow.

Madame St.Lo stamped her foot on the turf.
"The little fool!" she murmured pettishly.

"Does she think that I am to be murdered that she may fatten on sighs?
Oh, come up, Madame, you must be dragged out of this!" And she started briskly towards the alders, intent on gaining company as quickly as possible.
She had gone about fifty yards, and had as many more to traverse when she halted.

A man, bent double, was moving stealthily along the farther side of the brook, a little in front of her.