'No, sir, I went ahead and left him. That is,' she added, smothering a laugh, 'he did not set out at all.'
'I thought—I thought, you said you were together?'
'Only in a general way, sir. On all special occasions we divide.'
'What did you say you were doing? seeking your fortune?'
'I set out to seek mine,' said Wych Hazel, 'and of course poor Mr. Falkirk has to go along to look on. He doesn't help me one bit.'
'To seek your fortune, my dear?' said Dr. Maryland, looking benignly curious; 'What sort of a fortune are you looking for?'
'Why I don't know, sir. If I knew,—it would be half found already, wouldn't it?' said the girl.
'But my dear—did Mr. Falkirk never tell you that fortunes are never found ready made?'
'He objected, because he said mine was ready made—but that made no difference from my point of view. And then he said he thought our road would "end in a squirrel track, and run up a tree." And do you know, sir,' said Wych Hazel, the hidden merriment flashing out all over her face, 'that was what it really did!'
'Did what, my dear?'