'Mary Brown!'
Mary started. Her thoughts had wandered away in a day-dream; she looked round, and there stood the stranger at her elbow, with both hands held out.
"He was coming nearer, ... she turned her
head till he would pass." Page 24.
'Ken--Mister--Captain Drysdale!' The light came suddenly into her eyes, and perhaps a shade of warmer color into her cheeks as she gave her hand.
'Why not Kenneth, as of old? Am I to say "Miss Brown?" I fear you have a bad memory for old friends!'
'Not that--but who would have expected to see you here?'
'And who could have thought to see you here,---sitting upon a bridge, in Glen Effick, at seven o'clock in the morning?'
'We live in this village now. But where have you fallen from? When we heard of you last you were at Gibraltar.'
'And so I was till the other day, when the doctors ordered me home on sick leave. But tell me. How come you to be staying in this poor little place? Some of your old charity doings I suppose. Will you not let me drive you over to the manse, my gig is getting ready now. As you may suppose, I was storm-staid here last night, and I am just setting out for home. Though, of course, I shall be only too glad to wait till you are ready to start.'