And the old servant went slowly, sadly, and reluctantly up towards the mansion-house.
Alma felt no disposition to follow his footsteps, but turned and wandered still farther down the slope of the hill into the narrow valley below, where the woods were thickest.
She had nearly reached the foot of the hill, when the figure of a man suddenly crossed her path.
Looking up with a start, she recognized Hollis Elverton.
“My father! back!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, Alma, back; I have not been far from you since we parted. I left you intending to return to my present retreat. But from the covert of the trees that concealed me I saw old David Denny pass, and saw you, instead of going home, as I expected you to do, and as you should have done, child, turn and ramble down the hill. I then took a shorter path to meet you here, to complete the interview that was interrupted, and under the shadow of the coming night see you safe within the lawn of your own dwelling,” said Hollis Elverton gravely.
“Oh, my dear father! how glad I am that I did not go home. Oh, if you knew how happy it makes me to see you again, even after this short interval, you would indeed love me a little,” said his daughter, fervently.
“Peace, girl, peace! No more of that, if you would ever look upon my face again! I have sought you, Alma, with a purpose. Sit down, while I unfold it to you. Sit down, I say, since you cannot stand,” said Mr. Elverton, pointing to the trunk of a felled tree that lay across their path, and upon which Alma immediately sank.
Mr. Elverton stood at a short distance, with his arms folded, leaning against an oak.
“You know something of this wholesale poisoning at Allworth Abbey?” he began.