,lookedlikesinglerussetleavesthathadfottentodrop.

    Thislaneinedup-hillallthewaytoHay;havingreachedthemiddle,Isatdownonastilewhichledtheoafield.Gatheringmymantleaboutme,aeringmyhandsinmymuff,Ididhecold,thoughitfrozekeenly;aswasattestedbyasheetoficecthecauseway,wherealittlebrooklet,nowgealed,hadoverflowedafterarapidthawsomedayssince.FrommyseatIcouldlookdownonThorhegreyandbattlementedhallwastheprincipalobjethevalebelowme;itswoodsanddarkrookeryroseagainstthewest.Iliillthesudownamongstthetrees,andsankcrimsonandclearbehihenturward.

    Onthehill-topabovemesattherisingmoon;paleyetasacloud,butbrighteningmomentarily,shelookedoverHay,which,halflostintrees,sentupabluesmokefromitsfeweys:itwasyetamiledistant,butintheabsolutehushIcouldhearplainlyitsthinmurmursoflife.Myear,too,felttheflowofcurrents;inwhatdalesahsIcouldnottell:butthereweremanyhillsbeyondHay,anddoubtlessmahreadingtheirpasses.Thateveningcalmbetrayedalikethetihereams,thesoughofthemostremote.

    Arudenoisebrokeonthesefineripplingsandwhisperings,atoncesofarawayandsoclear:apositivetramp,tramp,ametallicclatter,whicheffacedthesoftwave-wanderings;as,inapicture,thesolidmass,ortheroughbolesofagreatoak,drawnindarkandstrongonthefround,effacetheaerialdistanceofazurehill,sunnyhorizon,andblendedcloudswheretisintotint.

    Thedinwasonthecauseway:ahorsewasing;thewindingsofthelahidit,butitapproached.Iwasjustleaviile;yet,asthepathwasnarrow,Isatstilltoletitgoby.InthosedaysIwasyoung,andallsortsoffanciesbrightanddarktenantedmymind: