It is perhaps worthy of notice that he does not say to himself that Marian Bethune had been wrong! He sets Colonel Neilson straight on a point or two, and then goes on again, striking now, however, into a pathway that leads him very far from the farm he had proposed to visit.

It opens out into a pleasant little green sward dotted with trees, through which the sun glints delicately.

One of these trees is a gnarled old oak.
As Rylton steps into this open glade the oak attracts him.

He looks at it--first carelessly, and then with sharp interest.

What strange fruit is that hanging on it?
A foot!--an exquisite little slipper! He stands still, and looks higher; and there he sees Tita embedded amongst the leaves, half reclining on a giant bough and reading.