ands; and to those duties she was free to add what companionable
assistance she could render to Norah's reading, and what friendly
superintendence she could still exercise over Magdalen's music. Such
were the terms on which Miss Garth was now a resident in Mr. Vanstone's
family.

Toward the afternoon the weather improved. At half-past one the sun
was shining brightly; and the ladies left the house, accompanied by the
dogs, to set forth on their walk.

They crossed the stream, and ascended by the little rocky pass to the
hills beyond; then diverged to the left, and returned by a cross-road
which led through the village of Combe-Raven.

As they came in sight of the first cottages, they passed a man, hanging
about the road, who looked attentively, first at Magdalen, then at
Norah. They merely observed that he was short, that he was dressed in
black, and that he was a total stranger to them--and continued their
homeward walk, without thinking more about the loitering foot-passenger
whom they had met on their way back.

After they had left the village, and had entered the road which led
straight to the house, Magdalen surprised Miss Garth by announcing that
the stranger in black had turned, after they had passed him, and was
now following them. "He keeps on Norah's side of the road," she said,
mischievously. "I'm not the attraction--don't blame _me_."

Whether the man was really following them, or not, made little
difference, for they were now close to the house. As they passed through
the lodge-gates, Miss Garth looked round, and saw that the stranger
was quickening his pace, apparently with the purpose of entering into
conversation. Seeing this, she at once directed the young ladies to go
on to the house with the dogs, while she herself waited for events at
the gate.

There was just time to complete this discreet arrangement, before the
stranger reached the lodge. He took off his hat to Miss Garth politely,
as she turned round. What did he look like, on the face of him? He
looked like a clergyman in difficulties.

Taking his portrait, from top to toe, the picture of him began with a
tall hat, broadly encircled by a mourning band of crumpled crape. Below
the hat was a lean, long, sallow face, deeply pitted with the smallpox,
and characterized, very remarkably, by eyes of two different colors--one
bilious green, one bilious brown, both sharply intelligent. His hair was
iron-gray, carefully brushed round at the temple