Then she raised her eyes, met his, and the difficulty was solved by both falling into fits of deep laughter.
She was the first to speak.
"I am so sorry I surprised you.

I did not see you till I was close to you, and then you were abusing somebody so terribly that to stop such language I had to stop and help you.

I saw Tam and Jock at a pool a long way down, so they couldn't hear you, you know." "And I'm very much obliged to you.

You held it far better than Tam or Jock would have done.

But how did you get up here ?" "I climbed up the burn," said Alice simply, putting up a hand to confine a wandering tress.