of the owls were hard as marble also, and of a polished ferocity. They
would have their prey.

He walked fast through the lonely fields where Hazel had passed on her
mushrooming morning. The roses that had then been in the bud were
falling.

At Alderslea people stared at him as he went by, flushed and hatless.

From Alderslea to Wolf batch was some miles; from there to Undern the
way lay over Bitterly Hill, where he missed the path. So it was quite
dark when he came past Undern Pool, lying black and ghastly in its ring
of skeleton trees. The foxhound set up a loud baying within. Only one
window was lit.

Edward hammered on the knocker, and the sound echoed in the hollow
house.

There was a noise within of a door opening, and Hazel's voice cried: 'I
wouldna go. It's a tramp, likely.'

Then Reddin laughed, and Edward clenched his hands in rage at the easy
self-confidence of him. The bolt was drawn back, and Reddin stood in
the doorway, outlined by pale light.

'Who is it?' he asked in rather a jovial tone. He felt at peace with
the world now Hazel was here.

'Beast!' Edward said tersely.