walkingaboutoutside，andstraininghereyesalongthehighwayfortheexpectedone。Buteachcloudofdustthatenlargedinthedistanceanddrewnearwasfoundtodiscloseaconveyanceotherthanhispost-chaise。Barbararemainedtilltheappointmentwastwohourspassed，andthenbegantofearthatowingtosomeadversewindintheChannelhewasnotcomingthatnight。
Whilewaitingshewasconsciousofacurioustrepidationthatwasnotentirelysolicitude，anddidnotamounttodread；hertensestateofincertitudeborderedbothondisappointmentandonrelief。
Shehadlivedsixorsevenweekswithanimperfectlyeducatedyethandsomehusbandwhomnowshehadnotseenforseventeenmonths，andwhowassochangedphysicallybyanaccidentthatshewasassuredshewouldhardlyknowhim。Canwewonderathercompoundstateofmind?
ButherimmediatedifficultywastogetawayfromLorntonInn，forhersituationwasbecomingembarrassing。LiketoomanyofBarbara\'sactions，thisdrivehadbeenundertakenwithoutmuchreflection。
Expectingtowaitnomorethanafewminutesforherhusbandinhispost-chaise，andtoenteritwithhim，shehadnothesitatedtoisolateherselfbysendingbackherownlittlevehicle。Shenowfoundthat，beingsowellknowninthisneighbourhood，herexcursiontomeetherlong-absenthusbandwasexcitinggreatinterest。Shewasconsciousthatmoreeyeswerewatchingherfromtheinn-windowsthanmetherowngaze。Barbarahaddecidedtogethomebyhiringwhateverkindofconveyancethetavernafforded，when，straininghereyesforthelasttimeoverthenowdarkeninghighway，sheperceivedyetanotherdust-clouddrawingnear。Shepaused；achariotascendedtotheinn，andwouldhavepassedhadnotitsoccupantcaughtsightofherstandingexpectantly。Thehorseswerecheckedontheinstant。