Волны

           ’

           ’Thebirds’eyesarebrightinthetunnelsbetweentheleaves,’saidNeville.

           ’Thestalksarecoveredwithharsh,shorthairs,’saidJinny,’anddropsofwaterhavestucktothem.’

           ’Acaterpillariscurledinagreenring,’saidSusan,’notchedwithbluntfeet.’

           ’Thegrey-shelledsnaildrawsacrossthepathandflattensthebladesbehindhim,’saidRhoda.

           ’Andburninglightsfromthewindow-panesflashinandoutonthegrasses,’saidLouis.

           ’Stonesarecoldtomyfeet,’saidNeville.’Ifeeleachone,roundorpointed,separately.’

           ’Thebackofmyhandburns,’saidJinny,’butthepalmisclammyanddampwithdew.’

           ’Nowthecockcrowslikeaspurtofhard,redwaterinthewhitetide,’saidBernard.

           ’Birdsaresingingupanddownandinandoutallroundus,’saidSusan.

           ’Thebeaststamps;theelephantwithitsfootchained;thegreatbruteonthebeachstamps,’saidLouis.

           ’Lookatthehouse,’saidJinny,’withallitswindowswhitewithblinds.’

           ’Coldwaterbeginstorunfromthescullerytap,’saidRhoda,’overthemackerelinthebowl.’

           ’Thewallsarecrackedwithgoldcracks,’saidBernard,’andthereareblue,finger-shapedshadowsofleavesbeneaththewindows.’

           ’NowMrsConstablepullsupherthickblackstockings,’saidSusan.

           ’Whenthesmokerises,sleepcurlsofftherooflikeamist,’saidLouis.

           ’Thebirdssanginchorusfirst,’saidRhoda.’Nowthescullerydoorisunbarred.Offtheyfly.Offtheyflylikeaflingofseed.Butonesingsbythebedroomwindowalone.