Cuthbert was no longer a child; he was beginning to think and reason and act for himself.

It was better he should fly before worse had happened; only the girl could not but wonder what her own life would be like if, after his departing, her stern father should absolutely forbid her seeing or speaking to her cousins again.
She knew he would gladly do it; knew that he hated and grudged the few meetings and greetings that did pass between them from time to time.

Any excuse would gladly be caught at as a pretext for an absolute prohibition of such small overtures, and what would life be like, she wondered with a little sob, if she were to lose Cuthbert, and never to see Philip?
Her brother was at the trysting place first.

She could not see his face, but could distinguish the slight figure seated upon the crumbling fragment of the wall.

He was very still and quiet, and she paused as she drew near, wondering if he had not heard her light footfall upon the fallen leaves.
"Is that thou, my sister ?" asked a familiar voice, though feeble and hollow in its tones.