OngettingbacktothehouseIinformedMissHalcombeofwhatIintendedtodo。ShelookedsurPrisedanduneasywhileIwasexplainingmypurpose，butshemadenopositiveobjectiontotheexecutionofit。Sheonlysaid，`Ihopeitmayendwell。’Justasshewasleavingmeagain，Istoppedhertoinquire，ascalmlyasIcould，afterMissFairlie’shealth。Shewasinbetterspirits，andMissHalcombehopedshemightbeinducedtotakealittlewalkingexercisewhiletheafternoonsunlasted。
Ireturnedtomyownroomtoresumesettingthedrawingsinorder。Itwasnecessarytodothis，anddoublynecessarytokeepmymindemployedonanythingthatwouldhelptodistractmyattentionfrommyself，andfromthehopelessfuturethatlaybeforeme。FromtimetotimeIpausedinmyworktolookoutofwindowandwatchtheskyasthesunsanknearerandnearertothehorizon。OnoneofthoseoccasionsIsawafigureonthebroadgravelwalkundermywindow。ItwasMissFairlie。
Ihadnotseenhersincethemorning，andIhadhardlyspokentoherthen。AnotherdayatLimmeridgewasallthatremainedtome，andafterthatdaymyeyesmightneverlookonheragain。Thisthoughtwasenoughtoholdmeatthewindow。Ihadsufficientconsiderationforhertoarrangetheblindsothatshemightnotseemeifshelookedup，butIhadnostrengthtoresistthetemptationoflettingmyeyes，atleast，followherasfarastheycouldonherwalk。
Shewasdressedinabrowncloak，withaPlainblacksilkgownunderit。Onherheadwasthesamesimplestrawhatwhichshehadwornonthemorningwhenwefirstmet。Aveilwasattachedtoitnowwhichhidherfacefromme。ByhersidetrottedalittleItaliangreyhound，thepetcompanionofallherwalks，smartlydressedinascarletclothwrapper，tokeepthesharpairfromhisdelicateskin。Shedidnotseemtonoticethedog。Shewalkedstraightforward，withherheaddroopingalittle，andherarmsfoldedinhercloak。Thedeadleaves，whichhadwhirledinthewindbeforemewhenIhadheardofhermarriageengagementinthemorning，whirledinthewindbeforeher，androseandfellandscatteredthemselvesatherfeetasshewalkedoninthepalewaningsunlight-Thedogshiveredandtrembled，andpressedagainstherdressimpatientlyfornoticeandencouragement。
Butsheneverheededhim。Shewalkedon，fartherandfartherawayfromme，withthedeadleaveswhirlingaboutheronthepath——walkedon，tillmyachingeyescouldseehernomore，andIwasleftaloneagainwithmyownheavyheart。