Wych Hazel (Paperback)

Excerpt: ... went on while in the darkness, along the edge. But I think by this time I must have been tired, I grew so suddenly trembling and unsteady. And the night was so still, and yet I seemed to hear steps everywhere. I could not bear it any longer; and I thought I would just be quiet and wait for the day. Only-so far my wits served me yet-I must once more cross the road; for the moon was sinking westward now, and the level rays came in about my feet.' 'I thought I could not do it at first, ' she said, with a voice that told more than the words, -'go out into that stream of light; but then I did; and hid myself in the branches of a great hemlock, and waited there.' 'And then I found Mr. Rollo, -and I knew that I might trust him.' With which most unconscious full-sized compliment, the girl crossed her arms upon her lap, and laid her face down upon them, and was still. 'How did she found you?' demanded Mr. Falkirk with unceremonious energy. The answer was in an undertone: 'I found her.' Mr. Falkirk was silent again. 'No, ' said Wych Hazel, without raising her head, and again not stopping to measure her words. 'You would have stood there till this time, if I had not spoken ' 'Would I?' said Rollo. 'And how came you to be there at all at that time of night?' said Mr. Falkirk. 'On my way from the cars.' 'Cars, where?' 'Henderson.' 'Walk from Henderson ' said Mr. Falkirk. 'Save time. I wanted to be here to-day.' The answers were all short and grave, as a man speaks who has no words that he wants to say. 'And Mr. Rollo thought', said Hazel, looking up, 'that it was better for me to come home from Dr. Maryland's than from the woods. And-when he spoke of it-I supposed you would say that too, Mr. Falkirk.' But Mr. Falkirk vouchsafed no corroboration of this opinion. 'Did I do well, sir?' she said a little eagerly, but meaning now the whole night's work. 'Did I do ill? Was I a bit like your old ideal-"a woman" and "brave"? Or was I only a girl, and very...