He drew his hand over his heavy eyebrows.

He thought to himself that he would go home now, that he would start that day or the next and never see her again, and in the decision he began walking away, forgetting the word "good-bye" and all its courtesy, because oblivious of everything except that thought that he was unfit for anything but to go and live out his time in the desolate home.

But when he had got about twenty paces from her he remembered that he had said no farewell, and turned, looked back, and came to her again, his heart beating like a boy's.
She stood where he had left her, sullen, with head slightly bent, and tearing the same leaves.

Bates recognised her beauty to the full, as much as any other man could have done, but it only hurt him and made him afraid.

He looked at her, timid as a child, yet manfully ignoring his timidity, he tried to smile to her as he said, "Bairn, I may never see ye in this world again; give your old teacher a kiss." Eliza stared, then lent her face to be kissed.