Page 338 - sons-and-lovers
P. 338

that glowed with sunset, tiny white farms standing out, the
         meadows golden, the woods dark and yet luminous, tree-
         tops  folded  over  tree-tops,  distinct  in  the  distance.  The
         evening had cleared, and the east was tender with a magen-
         ta flush under which the land lay still and rich.
            ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ she pleaded.
            But he only scowled. He would rather have had it ugly
         just then.
            At that moment a big bull-terrier came rushing up, open-
         mouthed, pranced his two paws on the youth’s shoulders,
         licking his face. Paul drew back, laughing. Bill was a great
         relief to him. He pushed the dog aside, but it came leaping
         back.
            ‘Get out,’ said the lad, ‘or I’ll dot thee one.’
            But the dog was not to be pushed away. So Paul had a little
         battle with the creature, pitching poor Bill away from him,
         who,  however,  only  floundered  tumultuously  back  again,
         wild with joy. The two fought together, the man laughing
         grudgingly,  the  dog  grinning  all  over.  Miriam  watched
         them.  There  was  something  pathetic  about  the  man.  He
         wanted so badly to love, to be tender. The rough way he
         bowled the dog over was really loving. Bill got up, panting
         with happiness, his brown eyes rolling in his white face, and
         lumbered back again. He adored Paul. The lad frowned.
            ‘Bill, I’ve had enough o’ thee,’ he said.
            But the dog only stood with two heavy paws, that quiv-
         ered with love, upon his thigh, and flickered a red tongue at
         him. He drew back.
            ‘No,’ he said—‘no—I’ve had enough.’
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