They walked on together. As there was no path, Giles occasionally
stepped in front and bent aside the underboughs of the trees to give
his companion a passage, saying every now and then when the twigs, on
being released, flew back like whips, "Mind your eyes, sir." To which
the stranger replied, "Yes, yes," in a preoccupied tone.
So they went on, the leaf-shadows running in their usual quick
succession over the forms of the pedestrians, till the stranger said, "Is it far?"
"Not much farther," said Winterborne. "The plantation runs up into a
corner here, close behind the house." He added with hesitation, "You
know, I suppose, sir, that Mrs. Charmond is not at home?"
"You mistake," said the other, quickly. "Mrs. Charmond has been away
for some time, but she's at home now."
Giles did not contradict him, though he felt sure that the gentleman
was wrong.
"You are a native of this place?" the stranger said.
"Yes."
"Well, you are happy in having a home. It is what I don't possess."
"You come from far, seemingly?"
"I come now from the south of Europe."
"Oh, indeed, sir. You are an Italian, or Spanish, or French gentleman,
perhaps?"
"I am not either."
Giles did not fill the pause which ensued, and the gentleman, who
seemed of an emotional nature, unable to resist friendship, at length
answered the question.
"I am an Italianized American, a South Carolinian by birth," he said.
"I left my native country on the failure of the Southern cause, and
have never returned to it since."
He spoke no more about himself, and they came to the verge of the wood.
Here, striding over the fence out upon the upland sward, they could at
once see the chimneys of the house in the gorge immediately beneath
their position, silent, still, and pale.
"Can you tell me the time?" the gentleman asked. "My watch has
stopped."
"It is between twelve and one," said Giles.
His companion expressed his astonishment. "I thought it between nine
and ten at latest! Dear me--dear me!"
He now begged Giles to return, and offered him a gold coin, which
looked like a sovereign, for the assistance rendered. Giles declined
to accept anything, to the surprise of the stranger, who, on putting
the money back into his pocket, said, awkwardly, "I offered it because
I want you to utter no word about this meeting with me. Will you
promise?"