—fromSonsandLovers(Chapter7)
OneeveninginthesummerMiriamandhewentoverthefieldsbyHerod’-grass, , astheywalkedalongthehighland, thegoldinthewestsankdowntored, theredtocrimson, andthenthechillbluecreptupagainsttheglow.
TheycameoutuponthehighroadtoAlfreton, , , Selby, withitsstarkhousesandtheup-prickedheadstocksofthepit, stoodinblacksilhouettesmallagainstthesky.
Helookedathiswatch.
“Nineo’clock!”hesaid.
Thepairstood, lothtopart, huggingtheirbooks.
“Thewoodissolovelynow,”shesaid.“Iwantedyoutoseeit.”
Hefollowedherslowlyacrosstheroadtothewhitegate.
“TheygrumblesoifI’mlate,”hesaid.
“Butyou’renotdoinganythingwrong,”sheansweredimpatiently.
, ascentofleaves, ofhoneysuckle, , , expectant.
, tillhehadseenit, , .
-woodamistwasrising, andhehesitated, wonderingwhetheronewhitenesswereastrandoffogoronlycampion-flowerspallidinacloud.
; —somethingthatthrilledher, , andhelistened, vaguelyanxious.
Comingtotheedgeofthewood, theysawtheskyinfront, likemother-of-pearl, -woodthehoneysucklewasstreamingscent.
“Where?”heasked.
“Downthemiddlepath,”shemurmured, quivering.
, gazingratherfrightened, shecoulddistinguishnothingforsomemoments; thegreyinglightrobbedthingsoftheircolour.
Thenshesawherbush.
“Ah!”shecried, hasteningforward.
-bush, anditslongstreamerstrailedthick, rightdowntothegrass, splashingthedarknesseverywherewithgreatspiltstars, , silent, , , andstilldidnotputouttheroses.
PaullookedintoMiriam’, herlipswereparted, .
Heturnedaside, .
“Theyseemasiftheywalklikebutterflies, andshakethemselves,”hesaid.
