Mattersbeinginthisadvancingstate，Stockdalewasrathersurprisedonecloudyevening，whilesittinginhisroom，athearingherspeakinlowtonesofexpostulationtosomeoneatthedoor。Itwasnearlydark，buttheshutterswerenotyetclosed，northecandleslighted；andStockdalewastemptedtostretchhisheadtowardsthewindow。Hesawoutsidethedoorayoungmaninclothesofawhitishcolour，anduponreflectionjudgedtheirwearertobethewell-builtandratherhandsomemillerwholivedbelow。Themiller’svoicewasalternatelylowandfirm，andsometimesitreachedthelevelofpositiveentreaty；butwhatthewordswereStockdalecouldinnowayhear。
Beforethecolloquyhadended，theminister’sattentionwasattractedbyasecondincident。OppositeLizzy’shomegrewaclumpoflaurels，formingathickandpermanentshade。Oneofthelaurelboughsnowquiveredagainstthelightbackgroundofsky，andinamomenttheheadofamanpeeredout，andremainedstill。Heseemedtobealsomuchinterestedintheconversationatthedoor，andwasplainlylingeringtheretowatchandlisten。HadStockdalestoodinanyotherrelationtoLizzythanthatofalover，hemighthavegoneoutandinvestigatedthemeaningofthis:butbeingasyetbutanunprivilegedally，hedidnothingmorethanstandupandshowhimselfagainstthefirelight，whereuponthelistenerdisappeared，andLizzyandthemillerspokeinlowertones。
Stockdalewasmadesouneasybythecircumstance，thatassoonasthemillerwasgone，hesaid，’Mrs。Newberry，areyouawarethatyouwerewatchedjustnow，andyourconversationheard？’
’When？’shesaid。
’Whenyouweretalkingtothatmiller。Amanwaslookingfromthelaurel-treeasjealouslyasifhecouldhaveeatenyou。’