At half-past one the sun was shining brightly; and the ladies left the house, accompanied by the dogs, to set forth on their walk.
They crossed the stream, and ascended by the little rocky pass to the hills beyond; then diverged to the left, and returned by a cross-road which led through the village of Combe-Raven.
As they came in sight of the first cottages, they passed a man, hanging about the road, who looked attentively, first at Magdalen, then at Norah.

They merely observed that he was short, that he was dressed in black, and that he was a total stranger to them--and continued their homeward walk, without thinking more about the loitering foot-passenger whom they had met on their way back.
After they had left the village, and had entered the road which led straight to the house, Magdalen surprised Miss Garth by announcing that the stranger in black had turned, after they had passed him, and was now following them.

"He keeps on Norah's side of the road," she said, mischievously.

"I'm not the attraction--don't blame _me_." Whether the man was really following them, or not, made little difference, for they were now close to the house.

As they passed through the lodge-gates, Miss Garth looked round, and saw that the stranger was quickening his pace, apparently with the purpose of entering into conversation.