Finally , she slipped away from the manse , down through Rainbow Valley , up through the whispering woods , and out to the road that ran past the house on the hill . It was quite a long walk and Una was tired and warm when she got there . She saw Rosemary West sitting under a tree in the garden and stole past the dahlia beds to her . Rosemary had a book in her lap , but she was gazing afar across the harbour and her thoughts were sorrowful enough . Life had not been pleasant lately in the house on the hill . Ellen had not sulked -- Ellen had been a brick . But things can be felt that are never said and at times the silence between the two women was intolerably eloquent . All the many familiar things that had once made life sweet had a flavour of bitterness now . Norman Douglas made periodical irruptions also , bullying and coaxing Ellen by turns . It would end , Rosemary believed , by his dragging Ellen off with him some day , and Rosemary felt that she would be almost glad when it happened . Existence would be horribly lonely then , but it would be no longer charged with dynamite . She was roused from her unpleasant reverie by a timid little touch on her shoulder . Turning , she saw Una Meredith . `` Why , Una , dear , did you walk up here in all this heat ? '' `` Yes , '' said Una , `` I came to -- I came to -- '' But she found it very hard to say what she had come to do . Her voice failed -- her eyes filled with tears . `` Why , Una , little girl , what is the trouble ? Do n't be afraid to tell me . '' Rosemary put her arm around the thin little form and drew the child close to her . Her eyes were very beautiful -- her touch so tender that Una found courage .
`` I came -- XXXXX ask you -- to marry father , '' she gasped .
across around by from in on past so to under