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Updated: June 1, 2025
It was settled that they were to go on the day before the flower-show, and Hazel was to stay the night. It would be the last night but one before the wedding. Meanwhile, the bark-stripping continued, and fate went on leading Jack Reddin's horse in every direction but the right one. Edward went to Hunter's Spinney every day.
She and the bird, sheltered under the grey-silver feathers of the trees, lived their great moments of creation and receptivity until suddenly there was a sharp noise of hoofs, the song snapped, the willow was untenanted, and Reddin's horse splashed through the ford. 'Oh! cried Hazel, 'what for did you break the song? A sacred bird, it was. And now it's fled!
She was crying not only because Vessons had come off victorious, but because her position was now defined, and was not what she would have liked, but also because Reddin's manner to her jarred after last night.
Edward was so startled at this unhesitating frankness that he said nothing. But he silently buried several sweet hopes that had been pushing up like folded hyacinths for a week. The old madness was upon him, but it was a larger, more spiritual madness than Reddin's, as the sky is larger and more ethereal than the clouds that obscure it.
The pine-tops bowed in as stately a manner as they had when Hazel cried, 'I'll never be a woman! They listened like grown-ups to the prattle of a child. And the stars, like gods in silver armour sitting afar in halls of black marble, seemed to hear and disdain the little gnat-like voice, as they heard Vessons' defiant 'Never will I! and Mrs. Marston's woolly prayers, and Reddin's hoof-beats.
"Do they set on the gold chairs?" "No, indeed; the legs is too wabbly fer that. I reckon they're jes to show how rich they are. This here is where the carriage drives in. Their hired man wears a high-style hat, an' a fur cape jes like Mrs. Reddin's." "I 'spect they have turkey every day, don't they, Asia?"
Hazel climbed in and drove off, and Reddin's tragic moment died, as great fires die, into grey ash. He went home heavily. His way lay past the parsonage where Edward and his mother slept peacefully. The white calm of unselfish love wrapped Edward, for he felt that he could make Hazel happy. As he fell asleep that night he thought: 'She was made for a minister's wife.
Reddin laughed again shortly. Edward put this down to shyness. 'I hope we shall often have you with us again. Reddin's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Yes, thanks. I shall be with you again. 'You'll stay and have some supper? 'Thanks. He had left off feeling unsportsmanlike. He had no compunction towards Edward. It was man to man, and the woman to the winner.
Hazel felt that life was going on gaily without her she shut away in the dark. Her feet began to dance. 'I'll go in! she said defiantly. 'What for not? But just as she was lifting the flap she heard Reddin's voice at her elbow. 'Hazel, why did you run away? 'I dunno. 'Why didn't you tell me your name? Here have I been going hell-for-leather up and down the country. 'Ah! That's gospel!
So Reddin did the accounts and slept the sleep of the intellectual worker afterwards. Hazel looked out from the tent of the bed canopy into the dark, creaking room and the darker, roaring night. She grew more afraid of Reddin and Undern as the hours dragged on. Reddin's presence tore to pieces the things she loved delicate leafy things as if they were tissue-paper and he had walked through it.
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