Mrs. Todd disappeared. I could see that something had deeply interested her. She might have fallen in with either the sea-serpent or the lost tribes of Israel, such was her air of mystery and satisfaction. She had been away since just before mid-morning, and as I sat waiting by my window I saw the last red glow of autumn sunshine flare along the gray rocks of the shore and leave them cold again, and touch the far sails of some coastwise schooners so that they stood like golden houses on the sea. I was left to wonder longer than I liked. Mrs. Todd was making an evening fire and putting things in train for supper; presently she returned, still looking warm and cheerful after her long walk. “There’s a beautiful view from a hill over where I’ve been,” she told me; “yes, there’s a beautiful prospect of land and sea. You wouldn’t discern the hill from any distance, but ’tis the pretty situation of it that counts. I sat there a long spell, and I did wish for you. No, I didn’t know a word about goin’ when I set out this morning” (as if I had openly reproached her!); “I only felt one o’ them travelin’ fits comin’ on, an’ I ketched up my little basket; I didn’t know but I might turn and come back time for dinner. I thought it wise to set out your luncheon for you in case I didn’t. Hope you had all you wanted; yes, I hope you had enough.” “Oh, yes, indeed,” said I. My landlady was always peculiarly bountiful in her supplies when she left me to fare for myself, as if she made a sort of peace-offering or affectionate apology. “You know that hill with the old house right on top, over beyond the heron swamp? You’ll excuse me for explainin’,” Mrs. Todd began, “but you ain’t so apt to strike inland as you be to go right along shore. You know that hill; there’s a path leadin’ right over to it that you have to look sharp to find nowadays; it belonged to the up-country Indians when they had to make a carry to the landing here to get to the out’ islands. I’ve heard the old folks say that there used to be a place across a ledge where they’d worn a deep track with their moccasin feet, but I never could find it. ’Tis so overgrown in some places that you keep losin’ the path in the bushes and findin’ it as you can; but it runs pretty straight considerin’ the lay o’ the land, and I keep my eye on the sun and the moss that grows one side o’ the tree trunks. Some brook’s been choked up and the swamp’s bigger than it used to be. Yes; I did get in deep enough, one place!” I showed the solicitude that I felt. Mrs. Todd was no longer young, and in spite of her strong, great frame and spirited behavior, I knew that certain ills were apt to seize upon her, and would end some day by leaving her lame and ailing.