At last he saw her ahead of him. She did not hear his approach on the turf until he was close to her.
Her heart beat tumultuously as they walked on together. She could not understand why he had avoided her only to pursue her afterwards. The silence by which each was seeking to compel the other’s speech was broken by the shepherd.
“You’ve had no chance to tell me anything, Susannah,” he began.
“About Catherine? There’s nothing to tell. I’m main sorry for ye, that’s all. They were gone when uncle and me got home from the fair.”
“How d’ye know she be gone with Saunders? I went from the door like a fool in my haste, but maybe I’m wiser now.”
Susannah had provided herself with answers for all emergencies.
“She left a bit o’ paper with writing on the kitchen table. ‘Charles Saunders is come,’ says she, ‘an’ I’m gone wi’ him.’ No more nor that. Not a word of thanks to me, either.”
“What did ye do with it?” exclaimed he, stopping short.
“Burnt it.”
Heber made a smothered exclamation.