Book Two — The Arrival

I. A Face on Which Time Makes but Little Impression

           

           Onthefinedaysatthistimeoftheyear,andearlier,certainephemeraloperationswereapttodisturb,intheirtriflingway,themajesticcalmofEgdonHeath.Theywereactivitieswhich,besidethoseofatown,avillage,orevenafarm,wouldhaveappearedasthefermentofstagnationmerely,acreepingofthefleshofsomnolence.Buthere,awayfromcomparisons,shutinbythestablehills,amongwhichmerewalkinghadthenoveltyofpageantry,andwhereanymancouldimaginehimselftobeAdamwithouttheleastdifficulty,theyattractedtheattentionofeverybirdwithineyeshot,everyreptilenotyetasleep,andsetthesurroundingrabbitscuriouslywatchingfromhillocksatasafedistance.

           TheperformancewasthatofbringingtogetherandbuildingintoastackthefurzefaggotswhichHumphreyhadbeencuttingforthecaptain’suseduringtheforegoingfinedays.Thestackwasattheendofthedwelling,andthemenengagedinbuildingitwereHumphreyandSam,theoldmanlookingon.

           Itwasafineandquietafternoon,aboutthreeo’clock;butthewintersolsticehavingstealthilycomeon,thelownessofthesuncausedthehourtoseemlaterthanitactuallywas,therebeinglittleheretoremindaninhabitantthathemustunlearnhissummerexperienceoftheskyasadial.Inthecourseofmanydaysandweekssunrisehadadvanceditsquartersfromnortheasttosoutheast,sunsethadrecededfromnorthwesttosouthwest;butEgdonhadhardlyheededthechange.

           Eustaciawasindoorsinthedining-room,whichwasreallymorelikeakitchen,havingastonefloorandagapingchimney-corner.

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