Lolita's appearance showed too plainly that she had been out all the
night. Her cloak was torn at the shoulder, evidently by a bramble, and
the weary manner in which she walked was as though she were exhausted.
The man, bearded, broad-shouldered and athletic, seemed, as far as I
could judge from his back, to be of middle age. He wore a rough tweed
suit and a golf cap, and as he strode by her side he spoke with her
earnestly, emphasising his words with gesture, as though giving her
certain directions, which she heard resignedly and in silence.
I noticed that when he stretched out his hand to add force to his
utterance that she shrank from him and shuddered. She was probably very
cold, for the early morning air was chilly, and the dew was heavy on the
ground.
Without betraying my presence, I crept on noiselessly after them, hoping
that I might overhear the words the fellow uttered, but in this I was
doomed to disappointment, for at the edge of the wood, before I realised
the man's intention, he suddenly raised his hat, and turning, left her,
disappearing by the narrow path that led through a small spinney to
Lowick village. Thus I was prevented from obtaining a glance at his
features and blamed myself for not acting with more foresight and
ingenuity.
After he had left her, she stood alone, gazing after him. No word,
however, escaped her. By his attitude I knew that he had threatened
her, and that she had no defence. She was inert and helpless.
In a few moments, with a wild gesture, she sank upon her knees in the
grass, and throwing up her two half-bare arms to heaven cried aloud for
help, her wild beseeching words reaching me where I stood.
My adored was in desperation. I heard the words of her fervent prayer
and stood with head uncovered. Long and earnestly she besought help,
forgiveness and protection; then with a strange, determined calm she
rose again, and stood in hesitation which way to proceed.
For the first time she seemed to realise that the sun was already
shining, and that it was open day, for she glanced at her clothes, and
with feminine dexterity shook out her bedraggled skirts and glanced at
them dismayed.