There was a little delay in their setting out from the town, and
Marty South took advantage of it to hasten forward, with the view
of escaping them on the way, lest they should feel compelled to
spoil their tete-a-tete by asking her to ride. She walked fast,
and one-third of the journey was done, and the evening rapidly
darkening, before she perceived any sign of them behind her.
Then, while ascending a hill, she dimly saw their vehicle drawing
near the lowest part of the incline, their heads slightly bent
towards each other; drawn together, no doubt, by their souls, as
the heads of a pair of horses well in hand are drawn in by the
rein. She walked still faster.

But between these and herself there was a carriage, apparently a
brougham, coming in the same direction, with lighted lamps. When
it overtook her--which was not soon, on account of her pace--the
scene was much darker, and the lights glared in her eyes
sufficiently to hide the details of the equipage.

It occurred to Marty that she might take hold behind this carriage
and so keep along with it, to save herself the mortification of
being overtaken and picked up for pity's sake by the coming pair.
Accordingly, as the carriage drew abreast of her in climbing the
long ascent, she walked close to the wheels, the rays of the
nearest lamp penetrating her very pores. She had only just
dropped behind when the carriage stopped, and to her surprise the
coachman asked her, over his shoulder, if she would ride. What
made the question more surprising was that it came in obedience to