Hewasawaythreeweeks。Thefirstdayortwo，mychargesatinacornerofthelibrary，toosadforeitherreadingorplaying:inthatquietstateshecausedmelittletrouble；butitwassucceededbyanintervalofimpatientfretfulweariness；andbeingtoobusy，andtoooldthen，torunupanddownamusingher，Ihitonamethodbywhichshemightentertainherself。Iusedtosendheronhertravelsroundthegrounds——nowonfoot，andnowonapony；indulgingherwithapatientaudienceofallherrealandimaginaryadventures，whenshereturned。
Thesummershoneinfullprime；andshetooksuchatasteforthissolitaryramblingthatsheoftencontrivedtoremainoutfrombreakfasttilltea；andthentheeveningswerespentinrecountingherfancifultales。
Ididnotfearherbreakingbounds；becausethegatesweregenerallylocked，andIthoughtshewouldscarcelyventureforthalone，iftheyhadstoodwideopen。Unluckily，myconfidenceprovedmisplaced。Catherinecametome，onemorning，ateighto\'clock，andsaidshewasthatdayanArabianmerchant，goingtocrossthedesertwithhiscaravan；andImustgiveherplentyofprovisionforherselfandbeasts:ahorse，andthreecamels，personatedbyalargehoundandacoupleofpointers。Igottogethergoodstoreofdainties，andslungtheminabasketononesideofthesaddle；
andshesprangupasgayasafairy，shelteredbyherwide-brimmedhatandgauzeveilfromtheJulysun，andtrottedoffwithamerrylaugh，mockingmycautiouscounseltoavoidgalloping，andcomebackearly。Thenaughtythingnevermadeherappearanceattea。Onetraveller，thehound，beinganolddogandfondofitsease，returned；butneitherCathy，northepony，northetwopointerswerevisibleinanydirection:Idispatchedemissariesdownthispath，andthatpath，andatlastwentwanderinginsearchofhermyself。Therewasalabourerworkingatafenceroundaplantation，onthebordersofthegrounds。Iinquiredofhimifhehadseenouryounglady。
`Isawheratmorn，\'hereplied；`shewouldhavemetocutherahazelswitch，andthensheleaptherGallowayoverthehedgeyonder，whereitislowest，andgallopedoutofsight。\'