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fromtheawningofthecurrantleavesandstand
upright.Therearetwigsinyourhair,Jinny.There
isagreencaterpillaronyourneck.Wemustform,two
bytwo.MissCurryistakingusforabriskwalk,while
MissHudsonsitsatherdesksettlingheraccounts.’
‘Itisdull,’saidJinny,‘walkingalongthehighroad
withnowindowstolookat,withnoblearedeyes
ofblueglassletintothepavement.’
‘Wemustformintopairs,’saidSusan,‘andwalk
inorder,notshufflingourfeet,notlagging,withLouis
goingfirsttoleadus,becauseLouisisalertandnot
awool-gatherer.’
‘SinceIamsupposed,’saidNeville,‘tobetoo
delicatetogowiththem,sinceIgetsoeasilytiredand
thenamsick,Iwillusethishourofsolitude,this
reprievefromconversation,tocoastroundthepurlieus
ofthehouseandrecover,ifIcan,bystandingonthe
samestairhalf-wayupthelanding,whatIfeltwhen
Iheardaboutthedeadmanthroughtheswing-door
lastnightwhencookwasshovinginandoutthe
dampers.Hewasfoundwithhisthroatcut.Theapple-
treeleavesbecamefixedinthesky;themoonglared;
Iwasunabletoliftmyfootupthestair.Hewasfound
inthegutter.Hisbloodgurgleddownthegutter.His
jowlwaswhiteasadeadcodfish.Ishallcallthis
stricture,thisrigidity,“deathamongtheappletrees”
forever.Therewerethefloating,pale-greyclouds;and
theimmitigabletree;theimplacabletreewithits
greavedsilverbark.Therippleofmylifewas
unavailing.Iwasunabletopassby.Therewas
anobstacle.“Icannotsurmountthisunintelligible
obstacle,”Isaid.Andtheotherspassedon.Butweare
doomed,allofus,bytheappletrees,bythe
immitigabletreewhichwecannotpass.
‘Nowthestrictureandrigidityareover;andIwill
continuetomakemysurveyofthepurlieusofthe
houseinthelateafternoon,inthesunset,whenthesun
makesoleaginousspotsonthelinoleum,andacrack
oflightkneelsonthewall,makingthechairlegslook
