Before Elsie could resume her questions Mrs. Harrington broke in with a faint sneer on her lips.
"And where did you leave Mr. North?" she said, fixing a cunning, sidelong glance on Elizabeth.
"I have not seen Mr. North," answered Mrs. Mellen, with apparent indifference, though the hot color mounted to her face, brought there either by some inward consciousness or the perceptible sneer leveled at her in the form of a question.
"Not seen Mr. North," exclaimed the widow, "dear me what things optical delusions are!"
Elizabeth did not hear or heed this, for that instant Mr. North came up to them very quietly and sat down near the widow.
"Have you had a pleasant ramble?" he said, addressing Elsie. "I saw you and Hawkins in the woods and had half a mind to join you."
"But changed your mind, and went—may I ask where?" said Elsie, with a shade of pallor on her face; for it seemed as if the man had surprised her with bitter thoughts of his deception in her mind, and she could not refrain from revealing something of distrust.
"Oh, I took a ramble around the brow of the precipice," he answered, carelessly, "and went into the tavern for a glass of water."
"And the lady," said Elsie, looking steadily in his face. "What lady was it in a riding-dress who bore you company? Mrs. Harrington saw one from her perch here on the ledge."
North cast a quick glance on Elizabeth, who did not speak, but sat looking from him to her sister-in-law, as if stricken by some sudden terror.