XLIV. Under a Tree—Reaction

           Bathshebawentalongthedarkroad,neitherknowingnorcaringaboutthedirectionorissueofherflight.Thefirsttimethatshedefinitelynoticedherpositionwaswhenshereachedagateleadingintoathicketoverhungbysomelargeoakandbeechtrees.Onlookingintotheplace,itoccurredtoherthatshehadseenitbydaylightonsomepreviousoccasion,andthatwhatappearedlikeanimpassablethicketwasinrealityabrakeoffernnowwitheringfast.Shecouldthinkofnothingbettertodowithherpalpitatingselfthantogoinhereandhide;andentering,shelightedonaspotshelteredfromthedampfogbyarecliningtrunk,whereshesankdownuponatangledcouchoffrondsandstems.Shemechanicallypulledsomearmfulsroundhertokeepoffthebreezes,andclosedhereyes.

           WhethershesleptornotthatnightBathshebawasnotclearlyaware.Butitwaswithafreshenedexistenceandacoolerbrainthat,alongtimeafterwards,shebecameconsciousofsomeinterestingproceedingswhichweregoingoninthetreesaboveherheadandaround.

           Acoarse-throatedchatterwasthefirstsound.

           Itwasasparrowjustwaking.

           Next:"Chee-weeze-weeze-weeze!"fromanotherretreat.

           Itwasafinch.

           Third:"Tink-tink-tink-tink-a-chink!"fromthehedge.

           Itwasarobin.

           "Chuck-chuck-chuck!"overhead.

           Asquirrel.

           Then,fromtheroad,"Withmyra-ta-ta,andmyrum-tum-tum!"

           Itwasaploughboy.Presentlyhecameopposite,andshebelievedfromhisvoicethathewasoneoftheboysonherownfarm.