ction. She was always urging her ladyship to walk out, to drive to Uthwaite, to be in the air. For Connie had got

gh the wood, and look at the daffs behind the keeper's cottage? They're the prettiest sight you'd see in a

all, one could not stew in one's own juice. The spring came back...`Seasons

he had forgotten him in her unspeakable depression. But now something roused...`Pale

he world, and all the dreadful, carrion-bodied people. `Ye must be born again! I believe in the resurrection of the body! Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and d

allor of endless little anemones, sprinkling the shaken floor. `The world has grown pale with thy breath.' But it was the breath of Persephone, this time; she was out of hell on a cold morning. Cold breaths of wind came, and overhead there was an anger of entangled wind caught among the twi

and the colour flew in her cheeks, and burned blue in her eyes. She walked ploddingly, picking a few primroses and

most rosy, like the flesh underneath a mushroom, its stone warmed in a burst of sun. And there was a spark

k, where the bank rose up; she ha

luttering and shivering, so bright and alive, but with nowhere

bouts of distress. But perhaps they liked it r

d she watched the daffodils turn golden, in a burst of sun that was warm on her hands and lap. Even she caught the faint, tarry scent of the flowers. And then, being so still and alo

hadow, dipping silently. So they would dip through the

she wanted just one or two to go with her. She would have to go back to Wragby and its walls, and n

home Cliffo

did y

the little daffodils adorable? To thi

t of air and sun

retorted, with a prompt contradic

rches. But the icy little spring softly pressed upwards from its tiny well-bed of pure, reddish-white pebbles. How icy and clear it was! Brilliant! The new keeper had no doubt put in fresh pebbles. She heard the faint tinkl

ust have been a drinking-place for hundreds of years. Now no

a faint tapping away on the right, and stood still to listen.

lt it had been used. She turned down it adventurously, between the thick young firs, which gave way soon to the old oak wood. She foll

it was the quiet place where the growing pheasants were reared; the keeper in his shirt-sleeves was kneeling, hammering. The dog

she came forward with weakening limbs. He resented the intrusion;

, feeling weak and breathless, and a little a

dy for th' young bods,' he

nd she felt weak. `I should lik

of her to the hut, pushing aside some timber and stuff

fire?' he asked, with the cur

bother,' sh

rch twigs to the little brick fire-place in the corner, and in a moment the y

a bit, and warm

the blaze, and dropped logs on the fire, whilst outside he was hammering again. She did not really want to sit, poked in

er's bench, then a big box, tools, new boards, nails; and many things hung from pegs: axe, hatchet, traps, things in sacks, hi

his privacy, and a dangerous one! A woman! He had reached the point where all he wanted on earth was to be al

from old contacts. He felt if he could not be alone, and if he could not be left alone, he would die. H

ool in the doorway, watching the man at work. He seemed not to notice her, but he knew. Yet he worked o

, went for an old coop, and took it to the chopping log where he was working. Crouching, he tried the bars; some broke in his hands; he be

act. Silently, patiently, he was recoiling away from her even now. It was the stillness, and the timeless sort of patience, in a man impatient and passionate, that touched Connie's womb. She saw it in his bent head, the quick quiet hands, the crou

g. And a little thin tongue of fire suddenly flickered in his loins, at the root of his back, and he groaned in spirit. He dreaded with a repulsion almost of death, any further close human contact. He wished above all things she would go away, and

urning to evening, yet she could not go away. She went over to the man, who

estful,' she said. `I hav

o?

l come and sit

es

he hut when yo

our Lad

y too, so that I could sit here

know on, th

nnie hesitated; he was putting up an

n her soft voice, that underneath had the

g at her with a flash of an

cate,' she sa

d 'ud know,' he sai

have one made from the one you have. It would only take a

ady! Ah know nob'dy as

nly flushed

she said. `I'

t, your L

dislike and contempt, and indifference to w

disliked her, when she went against him.

aftern

kened the sleeping dogs of old voracious anger in him, anger against

self-willed male. A servant

the great beech-tree on t

d be coming, my Lady,' t

e?' asked

fford was waitin

t you make

place. I don't think Sir Cliffor

why not,' s

study, where the old brass ke

taking up the tea-caddy, as she stood before the tray in her hat a

ironically. `I don't quite see h

crosanct about a silver

up at her

do all afterno

lace. Do you know there are stil

d certainly be leathery. She put the tea-cosy over the tea-pot, and rose to get a

id, putting them before him in

lids of Juno's e

the actual violets,' she said. `The E

ed him h

at little hut not far from John's Well, w

may be.

seen it before. I think it's a darling plac

llors t

dn't seem to like my intruding at all. In fact he

did he

anner; and he said he kn

dy. Betts knows them all, they're

!' she

s was almo

t think he wanted me to have the

suppose

is home, after all! It's not his private abode. I

. `He thinks too much

think he

fellow that way. Then some Indian colonel took a fancy to him, and he was made a lieutenant. Yes, they gave him a commission. I believe he went back to India with his colonel, and up to the north-west frontier. He was ill; he was a pension. He didn't come out

m an officer when he sp

tly well, for him. I suppose he has an idea if he's come dow

u tell me abou

es. They're the ruin of all order. It's

hat was the good of discontente

go to the wood. The wind was cold, but not so tiresome,

n there's a really fresh fine day. Usually one feels the

eople are doing

ntent and anger out of all the people, just ki

e atmosphere lowers the vital

poisons the unive

n nest,' rema

ones were wide open, as if exclaiming with the joy of life, just as good as in past days, when people cou

nd looked at t

ess,' he quoted. `It seems to fit flow

word!' she said. `It's only

w...snails and t

eat them, and be

were on ravished brides. How she hated words, always coming between her and life: they did the ravis

here it was. Suddenly, with all the force of her female instinct, she was shoving him off. She wanted to be clear of him, and espec

he went to the wood. And once there, she went towards the hut. It was raining, but n

ge soughings of wind in upper branches, when there seemed to be no wind. Old oak-trees stood around, grey, powerful trunks, rain-blackened, round and vital, throwing off reckless limbs. The ground was fairly free of undergrowth, the anemones spri

avish a tin of sardines. And so many women

. Connie wanted to go; yet she sat on. But she was getting cold; yet the ov

ver being touched. Ravished by dead words bec

cket, like a chauffeur, and face flushed a little. She felt him recoil in his quick walk, when he saw her. She stood up in

going,'

in?' he asked, looking

utes in the shelter,' she

t her. She

't got no other ke

ly dry under this porch. Good afternoon!' She

en he hitched up his jacket, and put his hand in h

his key, an' Ah min fend fo

oked a

ou mean?'

du for rearin' th' pheasants. If yer want ter be

ing his meaning through

k ordinary English?

owt it wor

for a few mom

appen Ah'd better gi'e 't yer termorrer, an' cle

ame mor

he least want to turn you out of your hut, thank you! I only wanted to be able to sit here somet

again, with his w

ar ther's bods ter set, an' Ah've got ter be potterin' abaht a good bit, seein' after 'em, an' a'. Winter time Ah ned 'ardly come nigh th' pleece. But what

ith a dim kind

nd your being he

at her c

. But I don't think I should have minded at all sitting and seeing you look after the birds. I should have liked it. But

er, she didn't know wh

's as your Ladyship likes an' pleases, every time. Ye

' she asked

his hat in an

lace ter yersen, when yer did c

Do you think I ought to be afraid of you? Why should I take any

his face glimmering

yship. Not in the v

y then?'

ur Ladyship ano

ou! I don't

. We'd best 'ave two

lent,' said Connie, with her

mean a lot of work, settin' up somewheres else. But if your Ladyship isn't going ter take no notice O' me, then...it's Sir Clifford's 'ut, an' everythink i

ded, or not. Perhaps the man really only meant what he said; that he thought she would expect him to keep

usion, not knowing wh