Page 558 - sons-and-lovers

ing occasionally, on the edge of the town, and they heard
footsteps coming, almost felt the vibration of the tread, and
they heard what the passersby said—strange little things
that were never intended to be heard. And afterwards each
of them was rather ashamed, and these things caused a dis-
tance between the two of them. He began to despise her a
little, as if she had merited it!
One night he left her to go to Daybrook Station over the
fields. It was very dark, with an attempt at snow, although
the spring was so far advanced. Morel had not much time;
he plunged forward. The town ceases almost abruptly on
the edge of a steep hollow; there the houses with their yel-
low lights stand up against the darkness. He went over the
stile, and dropped quickly into the hollow of the fields. Un-
der the orchard one warm window shone in Swineshead
Farm. Paul glanced round. Behind, the houses stood on the
brim of the dip, black against the sky, like wild beasts glar-
ing curiously with yellow eyes down into the darkness. It
was the town that seemed savage and uncouth, glaring on
the clouds at the back of him. Some creature stirred under
the willows of the farm pond. It was too dark to distinguish
anything.
He was close up to the next stile before he saw a dark
shape leaning against it. The man moved aside.
‘Good-evening!’ he said.
‘Good-evening!’ Morel answered, not noticing.
‘Paul Morel?’ said the man.
Then he knew it was Dawes. The man stopped his way.
‘I’ve got yer, have I?’ he said awkwardly.