On the first day after the crops had been securely housed, all went
to meeting, except Sylvia. In the walled graveyard the sod was
already green over De Courcy's unmarked mound, but Alice had
planted a little rose-tree at the head, and she and her mother
always visited the spot before taking their seats on the women's
side. The meeting-house was very full that day, as the busy season
of the summer was over, and the horses of those who lived at a
distance had no longer such need of rest.
It was a sultry forenoon, and the windows and doors of the building
were open. The humming of insects was heard in the silence, and
broken lights and shadows of the poplar-leaves were sprinkled upon
the steps and sills. Outside there were glimpses of quiet groves
and orchards, and blue fragments of sky,--no more semblance of life
in the external landscape than there was in the silent meeting
within. Some quarter of an hour before the shaking of hands took
place, the hoofs of a horse were heard in the meeting-house yard--
the noise of a smart trot on the turf, suddenly arrested.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140