She
did see him, but did not speak to him. He sat next to Evelina at
dinner, who was happy and expectant. The next day there was a grand
meet of the hounds, and almost all the party disappeared. Phyllis
pleaded a headache, and obtained permission to stay at home. It was a
lovely morning in November, without a movement in the air, calm and
cloudless, one of those mornings not uncommon when the year begins to
die. She went into the woods at the outer edge of the park, and had
scarcely entered them, when lo! to her astonishment, there was Charles.
She could not avoid him, and he came up to her.
"'Why, Miss Eyre, what are you doing here?'
"'I had a headache; I could not go with the others, and came out for a
stroll.'
"'I, too, was not very well, and have been left behind.'
"They walked together side by side.
"'I wanted to speak to you, Miss Eyre. I wonder if you have suspected
anything lately.'
"'Suspected? I do not quite comprehend: you are very vague.'
"'Well, must I be more explicit? Have you fancied that I care more for
somebody you know than I care for all the world besides? I suppose you
have not, for I thought it better to hide as much as possible what I
felt.
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