As she spoke, she turned crimson, and almost despaired, for it was a longer way to go home by the road.
Jane guessed with perfect accuracy the thoughts which were busy in her young mistress' mind; but she herself was a true daughter of Eve, and she wished to go home by the road as much as ever Elaine could do. She just sent one keen look at the girl's flushed face, and then said:
"It was more than a bit boggy across the waste; you'll get home dry-shod if we go the other way."
So these two dissemblers, neither of whom would own her secret motive, turned into the road, and walked along until a sudden bend in it brought them in sight of the artist's easel, and then Elaine's heart seemed to spring up to her throat and choke her, and she cried out, regardless of whom might hear,
"Oh, Jane! He's gone!"
CHAPTER IV.
Give her time—on grass and sky
Let her gaze, if she be fain:
As they looked, ere he drew nigh
They will never look again!
Jean Ingelow.