Still pursuing her solemn and melancholy discourse, the young lady followed the path, accompanied by the vicar.
'True,' said the vicar, 'your mind is disturbed, but not by doubt. No; it is by _truth_.' He glanced aside at the tarn where I had seen the phantom, and by which their path now led them--'You remember Parnell's pretty image?
'So when a smooth expanse receives imprest Calm nature's image on its watery breast, Down bend the banks, the trees depending grow, And skies beneath with answering colours glow; But if a stone the gentle scene divide, Swift ruffling circles curl on every side, And glimmering fragments of a broken sun, Banks, trees, and skies, in thick disorder run.'
'But, as I said, it is not a doubt that agitates your mind--that is well represented by the "stone," that subsides and leaves the pool clear, it maybe, but stagnant as before. Oh, no; it is an angel who comes down and troubles the water.'
'What a heavenly evening!' said a low, sweet voice, but with something insidious in it, close at his shoulder.
With a start, Rachel glanced back, and saw the pale, peculiar face of her brother. His yellow eyes for a moment gleamed into hers, and then on the vicar, and, with his accustomed smile, he extended his hand.
'How do you do?--better, I hope, Radie? How are you, William?'
Rachel grew deadly pale, and then flushed, and then was pale again.
'I thought, Stanley, you were in London.'
'So I was; but I arrived here this morning; I'm staying for a few days at the Lodge--Larkin's house; you're going home, I suppose, Radie?'
'Yes--oh, yes--but I don't know that I'll go this way. You say you must return to Gylingden now, Mr. Wylder; I think I'll turn also, and go home that way.'
'Nothing would give me greater pleasure,' said the vicar, truly as well as kindly, for he had grown interested in their conversation; 'but I fear you are tired'--he looked very kindly on her pale face--'and you know it will cost you a walk of more than two miles.'
'I forgot--yes--I believe I _am_ a _little_ tired; I'm afraid I have led _you_, too, farther than you intended.' She fancied that her sudden change of plan on meeting her brother would appear odd.
'I'll see you a little bit on your way home, Radie,' said Stanley.