Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/188

 into dark towers and sinister battlements, were receding southward. Overhead the sky was a drenched and tender blue.

"Oh, see the rainbow!" cried Fawnie, "like a fonny bridge across the lake."

"A good omen, Fawnie."

"World without end. Omen," she repeated, remembering the marriage service.

"I thought you said you didn't understand a word the clergyman said," laughed Derek.

"Don' you believe everything I say. I say what comes into my head. Let's go out."

It was delicious out of doors. The dripping grass was sweet and cool to tread on; delicate clouds of pink and gold floated like banners of peace above the tree tops. They went to the fallen tree and examined it. Lisgar began to walk the length of its splendid tapering trunk. A brood of half-grown chickens had taken shelter beneath its leaves. They ran out now, shaking themselves and stretching their long legs joyously. Yet, last of all came one who moved stiffly, half-dead from wet and chill. He had never feathered as he should; in fact, he had no feathers except on his head and wings, and a little ridiculous down on his red, sunburnt body. Now he staggered forth, grotesque, yet pitiable. Derek picked him up. "He's positively indecent," he said. "I suppose I ought to wring his neck. He'll never be any good."

"Give him to Lisgar. The ole woman'll put him in the pot."

That settled it. Derek carried him to the kitchen and made Phœbe wrap him in warm flannel, and give him a little milk. Soon he looked out brightly enough from his wrapper and opened his beak for more milk.

"Snailem found three poults behind the apple-house, flat-