Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 1.pdf/221

Rh The Angel turned and went on, a dazzled look in his eyes.

"She was very grotesque!" said the Angel. "Very. Much more than the little man in black. And she means it. But what she means I don't know!&hellip;" He became silent. "I suppose they all mean something," he said presently, still perplexed.

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the Angel came in sight of the forge, where Sandy Bright's brother was shoeing a horse for the carter from Upmorton. Two hobbledehoys were standing by the forge staring in a bovine way at the proceedings. As the Angel approached, these two and then the carter turned slowly through an angle of thirty degrees and watched his approach, staring quietly and steadily at him. The expression on their faces was one of abstract interest.

The Angel became self-conscious for the first time in his life. He drew nearer, trying to maintain an amiable expression on his face, an expression that beat in vain against their granitic stare. His hands were behind him. He smiled pleasantly, looking curiously at the (to him) incomprehensible employment of the smith. But the battery of eyes seemed to angle for his regard. Trying to meet the three pairs at once, the Angel lost his alertness and stumbled over a stone. One of the yokels gave a sarcastic cough, and was immediately covered with confusion at the Angel's inquiring gaze, nudging his companion 189