Gone to Earth

fin did not leave very much; but sometimes there were small ones, and then he made splendid hives. The white township on the south side of the lilac hedge increased as

ripped from the table, and pieces of broken comb l

g on the clean white boards. Then he had stooped and said with a curious confidential indifference, 'Maray's jead.' He had put his ear to the hive and listened to the deep, solemn murmur within; but it was the murmur of the future, and not of the past, the preoccupation with life, not with death, that filled the pale galleries within. Today the eighteen hives lay u

, and carpentering, and always in the background was his music-some new air to try on the gilded harp, some new chord or turn to master. The garden was almost big enough, and quite beautiful enough, for that of a mansion. In the summer white lilies haunted it, standing out in the dusk with their demure cajolery,

ed the look of the frozen garden; she had an almost unnaturally intense craving for everything rich, vivid, and vital. She was all these things her

to go there and back, unless

t never no lifts!' s

No Man's Parish,' replied Abel, 'an

ith radiant brown and silver, and no presage moved within it of th

d had put it on there and then in the back of the shop,

g that Margarine was as good as butter. But, looking at Hazel, he felt that here was butter-something that ne

a, 'Azel,' she said. H

e gl

unt s

e after one parent as another,

er anybody but myself.' H

ert, don't give 'Azel all the liver and bacon. I s

y, so obviously approving of all she sa

t to be like yourself,'

you'r

pleading, 'haven't I always taught you to say preserve?' She w

ation to stay the night. She longed for it as the righteous long for the damnation of their enemies. She never paid a visit except here, and to her it was a wild excitement. The gas-stove, the pretty china, the

out in her new dress with a real young man-a young man who possessed a gilt watch-chain. The suspense, as the wintry afternoon drew in, became almost intolerable. Still her aunt did not speak. The sitting-room looked so cosy when tea was laid; the firelight played over

d smiled grimly at Hazel's unusual meekness. She to

ke an actres

, aun

the way you look. You

aw men's eyes, i

x your ears! You naughty girl! Yo

r will I

s in a hollow whisper. 'And after that, as you won't s

pick me up!' said Hazel

ean really picked up! I meant a

said Hazel disappointedly. 'I

own my grey hairs,'

villa, with my own soda cake on the cake-dish-and my own son,' she added dram

for it was true, though t

l been up to

try strengthened his mother in her reso

lecture on tonight, Hazel

shoul

e of night,' said Mrs. Prowde. '

ying the night,

get back to

, there's th

om's being sp

as desperate and for

sofa,' he said. 'Sh

e your room. It'

her share y

ul of my comfort (and his memory) as to suggest such a thing. As long as I live, my room's mine. When I'm gone,' she concluded, knocking down her ad

improper thing to say! Even anger and jealousy did not excu

azel cried ou

of the consciously weak flamed up in her

lapped her hands and said, 'Yer lamps are lit! Yer lamps are lit!' and broke into peals of laughter. 'I

own and his

ork. As he stamped innumerable swans on the yielding material, he never doubted that his m

he, by her selfishness that night, had herself set Hazel's feet in the dark and winding path that she must tread from that night onward to its hidden, shadowy ending. Mrs. Prowde, through her many contented years, blamed in turn Hazel, Abel, Albert, the devil, and (only tacitly and, as it were, in secret fro

eam through its gates. She could hear the songs of joy-joy unattained and therefore imm

d though she was not afraid of the Callow and the fields at night, she was afraid of the high roads. For the Callow was ho

a lost and helpless little animal. Her new dress was forgotten; the wreath-frames would not fit under her arm, and caused a continual minor discomfort, and the Callow seemed to be half across the country. She heard a trapped rabbit screaming somewhere, a thin anguished cry that she

e a horseman with a long sword, and stealthily i

ccato, of a horse galloping. She held her breath to hear if it would turn down a by-road, but it came on. It came on, and grew in volume and in meaning, became almost ominous in the frozen silence. Hazel rose and stood in

, and the girl told to get supper fire-hot agen they come. Maybe

she stood well in the light, a slim, brow-beaten f

. Hazel cried out beseechingly, and

unk,' he soliloquiz

d say no more, for the tears

peered

are you doing

e night over. And my foot's blistered in a ball

s your

az

t el

lf-protection she refu

; 'and why you're so dark about yours

s face. He helped her up,

he rug round her-'your arm pulling me in be like the Sunday-scho

ee if she was in earnest. Seeing t

go?' h

les on

top the ni

t the invitation had come, not from her aunt,

eeged,' he sa

know

ard tell

miles from her

your mothe

ven't

the

N

there,

essons

s Ves

serv

gentlema

said it with such reverence and

that's what I am-a gentleman

be supper,

sons is in a

bin?' she

rke

s is good for you,' she rem

smelt stron

ek!' said he. 'Le

id eyes for a long time, and the

said, 'I'm in

for be

a girl

raw men

ed. Then he guffawe

I'd get spoke to, and she said I'd get puck

'd get picked

A

t his arm

pretty! T

a mau

ivil. I'm doing

arm about her, each wondering what

gates to open, and he admired her

hite with snow, two foals stood sadly by their mothers, gazi

ron un! Abron, lik

er shoulders, twisted them in a rope round his neck, and ki

st of the way. So they arrived with a clatter, and were met at the door by Andrew Ves