After a minute or two more of fast walking, she said again: "I can't think where he has gone to.

Do you see him anywhere ?" To this again there was no answer.

Alec naturally went the quicker that he might get out of hearing.

As he did so he wondered much that his fellow-travellers went so fast, or rather that the lady did, for she, although some way behind, seemed to keep very near to him.
On they went in silence for ten minutes more, when the lady again took up her reproachful theme.

Her voice was quieter now, but amid the harmonious sounds of wind and river he still heard it distinctly.