She was sure that he had something on his mind; but inexplicably she was thankful that he had not uttered it.
The sun was dropping out of sight behind the opposite hill, and she was conscious of a growing chill in the atmosphere.

A cockchafer whirred past her and buried itself in a tuft of grass hard by.

In the wood behind her a robin trilled a high sweet song.

From the farther side of the valley came a trail of smoke from a cottage bonfire, and the scent of it hung heavy in the evening air.
All these things she knew and loved, and they were to be hers for the rest of her life; yet her heart was heavy within her.

She turned and looked after Jeff with a wistful drooping of the lips.
He had passed out of sight behind some trees, but as she turned she heard a footfall in the wood close at hand, and almost simultaneously a man emerged carrying a gun.
He stopped at sight of her, and on the instant Doris made a swift movement of recognition.
"Why Hugh!" she said.
He came straight to her, with hand outstretched.