'Some huge branches of roses concealed his figure from me, but his face was distinct enough, in closer proximity to hers than good breeding generally warrants. It was pale, very, with dark eyes and a black moustache—in detail, by Jove, Chute, the same fellow whom Colonel Rakes found eavesdropping in the conservatory!
'Startled, alarmed, and scarcely knowing what to think, I still resolved to join her. I could scarcely deem myself an intruder, considering the terms we had been on, and are on now, and approached the arbour, but in doing so had to make a circuit among the shrubberies. Half a minute had not elapsed when I reached the arbour; no one passed me on the walk, not a footfall was heard on the gravel, at least by me; but when I joined her she was alone, with her head stooped forward, her face buried in her hands, and when she looked up its pallor startled me; yet her grey-blue, changeful, and lustrous eyes looked, and with a smile, into mine.
'"Have I disturbed you?" I asked, scarcely knowing what to say.
'"Disturbed me? Oh, no; I was done reading."
'"But some one was with you."
'"When?"
'"Just now."
'"Impossible!"
'"I thought that some one was here," I said, in great perplexity.
'"Oh no—but sit down and let us talk," said she, frankly.