Page 361 - sons-and-lovers

willows.
‘There, you see where they got through,’ he said. ‘My
man’s druv ‘em back three times.’
‘Yes,’ answered Miriam, colouring as if she were at fault.
‘Are you comin’ in?’ asked the man.
‘No, thanks; but we should like to go by the pond.’
‘Well, just as you’ve a mind,’ he said.
The horse gave little whinneys of pleasure at being so
near home.
‘He is glad to be back,’ said Clara, who was interested in
the creature.
‘Yes—‘e’s been a tidy step to-day.’
They went through the gate, and saw approaching them
from the big farmhouse a smallish, dark, excitable-looking
woman of about thirty-five. Her hair was touched with grey,
her dark eyes looked wild. She walked with her hands be-
hind her back. Her brother went forward. As it saw her, the
big bay stallion whinneyed again. She came up excitedly.
‘Are you home again, my boy!’ she said tenderly to the
horse, not to the man. The great beast shifted round to her,
ducking his head. She smuggled into his mouth the wrin-
kled yellow apple she had been hiding behind her back, then
she kissed him near the eyes. He gave a big sigh of pleasure.
She held his head in her arms against her breast.
‘Isn’t he splendid!’ said Miriam to her.
Miss Limb looked up. Her dark eyes glanced straight at
Paul.
‘Oh, good-evening, Miss Leivers,’ she said. ‘It’s ages since
you’ve been down.’

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