And at last we came to the landing, and the little boat and walked up the path to the hotel. The dull pain of separation was already upon us.  
I think we had forgotten Miss Summersley altogether. But she appeared as we sat down to tea at that same table at which we had breakfasted, and joined us as a matter of course. Conceivably she found the two friends of the morning had become rather taciturn. Indeed there came a of silence so that I roused myself to effort and told her, all over again, as I realized afterwards, the difficulties that had me upon Titlis. Then Miss Satchel regaled Mary with some particulars of the various comings and goings of the hotel. I became anxious to end this tension and went into the inn to pay my bill and get my knapsack. When I came out Mary stood up.
 
"I'll come just a little way with you, Stephen," she said, and I could have fancied the glasses of the companion flashed to hear the surname of the morning reappear a name in the afternoon....
 
"Is that woman behind us safe?" I asked, breaking the silence as we went up the mountain-side.
 
Mary looked over her shoulder for a contemplative second.
 
"She's always been—discretion itself."
 
We thought no more of Miss Satchel.
 
 
"This parting," said Mary, "is the worst of the price we have to pay.... Now it comes to the end there seem a thousand thi............