Then he turned to his fishing, and when Alice looked back from the vantage-ground of the hill shoulder she saw a figure bending intently below a great pool.

She was no coquette, but she could not repress a tinge of irritation at so callous and self-absorbed a young man.

Another would have been profuse in thanks and would have accompanied her to point out the road, or in some way or other would have declared his appreciation of her presence.

He might have told, her his name, and then there would have been a pleasant informal introduction, and they could have talked freely.

If he came to Glenavelin to-morrow, she would have liked to appear as already an acquaintance of so popular a guest.
But such thoughts did not long hold their place.