Book Two The Woman - Chapter 33 In Which I Fall From Folly Into Madness

It was with some little trepidation that I descended into the
Hollow, and walked along beside the brook, for soon I should meet
Charmian, and the memory of our parting, and the thought of this
meeting, had been in my mind all day long.

She would not be expecting me yet, for I was much before my usual
time, wherefore I walked on slowly beside the brook, deliberating
on what I should say to her, until I came to that large stone
where I had sat dreaming the night when she had stood in the
moonlight, and first bidden me in to supper. And now, sinking
upon this stone, I set my elbows upon my knees, and my chin in my
hands, and, fixing my eyes upon the ever-moving waters of the
brook, fell into a profound meditation.

From this I was suddenly aroused by the clink of iron and the
snort of a horse.

Wondering, I lifted my eyes, but the bushes were very dense, and
I could see nothing. But, in a little, borne upon the gentle
wind, came the sound of a voice, low and soft and very sweet
--whose rich tones there was no mistaking--followed, almost
immediately, by another--deeper, gruffer--the voice of a man.

With a bound, I was upon my feet, and had, somehow, crossed the
brook, but, even so, I was too late; there was the crack of a
whip, followed by the muffled thud of a horse's hoofs, which died
quickly away, and was lost in the stir of leaves.