They walked on together. As there was no path, Giles occasionally

stepped in front and bent aside the underboughs of the trees to give

his companion a passage, saying every now and then when the twigs, on

being released, flew back like whips, "Mind your eyes, sir." To which

the stranger replied, "Yes, yes," in a preoccupied tone.

So they went on, the leaf-shadows running in their usual quick

succession over the forms of the pedestrians, till the stranger said, "Is it far?"

"Not much farther," said Winterborne. "The plantation runs up into a

corner here, close behind the house." He added with hesitation, "You

know, I suppose, sir, that Mrs. Charmond is not at home?"

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"You mistake," said the other, quickly. "Mrs. Charmond has been away

for some time, but she's at home now."

Giles did not contradict him, though he felt sure that the gentleman

was wrong.

"You are a native of this place?" the stranger said.

"Yes."

"Well, you are happy in having a home. It is what I don't possess."

"You come from far, seemingly?"

"I come now from the south of Europe."

"Oh, indeed, sir. You are an Italian, or Spanish, or French gentleman,

perhaps?"

"I am not either."

Giles did not fill the pause which ensued, and the gentleman, who

seemed of an emotional nature, unable to resist friendship, at length

answered the question.

"I am an Italianized American, a South Carolinian by birth," he said.

"I left my native country on the failure of the Southern cause, and

have never returned to it since."

He spoke no more about himself, and they came to the verge of the wood.

Here, striding over the fence out upon the upland sward, they could at

once see the chimneys of the house in the gorge immediately beneath

their position, silent, still, and pale.

"Can you tell me the time?" the gentleman asked. "My watch has

stopped."

"It is between twelve and one," said Giles.

His companion expressed his astonishment. "I thought it between nine

and ten at latest! Dear me--dear me!"

He now begged Giles to return, and offered him a gold coin, which

looked like a sovereign, for the assistance rendered. Giles declined

to accept anything, to the surprise of the stranger, who, on putting

the money back into his pocket, said, awkwardly, "I offered it because

I want you to utter no word about this meeting with me. Will you

promise?"




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