They did not, however, take so long.

They came back again very soon, whispering as they had gone; and as soon as I judged it safe I left the glade and hurried home as fast as ever I could resolving to have the postern gate bolted so that Richard Dawson should not dare to come into our woods, and resolving also to see and speak with Nora Brady as soon as ever I had a chance.

Perhaps, indeed, she would not listen to me, but I could only do my best.
As it happened, my opportunity came sooner than I had expected; for it was only next day that I met her coming with a basket of eggs to the Abbey.
She dropped me a curtsey and would have passed on, but I stopped her.

We were all alone in the wide avenue, as much alone to all intents and purposes as we could have been anywhere.

I went straight to the point, feeling the painfulness of having to speak and doing it as directly as possible.
"Nora," I said, "I am only a girl like yourself, so don't be frightened of me.