At last he went down once more to West Chilton, this time for the express purpose of seeing Jen.
He found the cottage in the glen road near the village, and his knock was answered by Jen herself.

She recognised him instantly, but was too pre-occupied to take much interest in the fact of his coming.

He learned that her mother had just died, and that the neighbours were in the house, keeping vigil during the few sad days preceding the burial.

It was evident that there was little real sympathy between them and the bereaved daughter, so he easily persuaded her to come out and walk a bit up the road with him.

She did so, evidently supposing that he had some business with her, but too deeply buried in her sorrow to inquire what it was.
They came to the house by the roadside where he had last seen her and she had been unconscious of his presence.