Волны

           Nowthecornwascut.Nowonlyabriskstubblewasleftofallitsflowingandwaving.Slowlyagreatowllauncheditselffromtheelmtreeandswungandrose,asifonalinethatdipped,totheheightofthecedar.Onthehillstheslowshadowsnowbroadened,nowshrank,astheypassedover.Thepoolonthetopofthemoorlookedblank.Nofurryfacelookedthere,orhoofsplashed,orhotmuzzleseethedinthewater.Abird,perchedonanash-colouredtwig,sippedabeakfullofcoldwater.Therewasnosoundofcropping,andnosoundofwheels,butonlythesuddenroarofthewindlettingitssailsfillandbrushingthetopsofthegrasses.Onebonelayrain-pockedandsun-bleachedtillitshonelikeatwigthattheseahaspolished.Thetree,thathadburntfoxyredinspringandinmidsummerbentpliantleavestothesouthwind,wasnowblackasiron,andasbare.

           Thelandwassodistantthatnoshiningrooforglitteringwindowcouldbeanylongerseen.Thetremendousweightoftheshadowedearthhadengulfedsuchfrailfetters,suchsnail-shellencumbrances.Nowtherewasonlytheliquidshadowofthecloud,thebuffetingoftherain,asingledartingspearofsunshine,orthesuddenbruiseoftherainstorm.Solitarytreesmarkeddistanthillslikeobelisks.

           Theeveningsun,whoseheathadgoneoutofitandwhoseburningspotofintensityhadbeendiffused,madechairsandtablesmellowerandinlaidthemwithlozengesofbrownandyellow.Linedwithshadowstheirweightseemedmoreponderous,asifcolour,tilted,hadruntooneside.Herelayknife,forkandglass,butlengthened,swollen,andmadeportentous.