'Is that you, Leah?
Have my brother and Miss Darrell returned from Maplehurst ?' And I detected an anxious note in her voice.
'Yes, ma'am,' returned Leah civilly; 'and Miss Darrell seemed anxious at your being out so late, because you would take cold, and master begged you would wrap up and walk very fast.' 'Oh, I shall take no harm,' returned Miss Hamilton impatiently.
'Good-night, Miss Garston, and thank you for a very happy evening.
Good-night, Mr.Cunliffe, and thank you, too.

There is no need to come any farther: Leah will take care of me.' And she waved her hand and moved away in the darkness.
'What a bugbear that woman is!' I observed, rather irritably, as we retraced our steps in the direction of the Man and Plough, the little inn that stood at the junction of the four roads.

Everything looked dark and eerie in the faint starlight.

Our footsteps seemed to strike sharply against the hard, white road; there was a suspicion of frost in the air.
When Max spoke, which was not for some minutes, he merely remarked that we should have a cold Christmas, and then he asked me if I would dine with him at the vicarage on Christmas Day.

He and Mr.Tudor would be alone.
'Christmas will be here in less than a fortnight, Ursula,' he went on, rather absently, but I knew he was not thinking of what he was saying.
And when we reached the White Cottage he followed me into the parlour, sat down before the fire, and stretched out his hands to the blaze, as though he were very cold.
I stood and watched him for a moment, and then I could bear it no longer.
'Oh, Max!' I exclaimed, 'I wish you would tell me what makes you look so wretchedly ill to-night.