Chapter I. Outside Dorlcote Mill

ushofthewaterandtheboomingofthemillbringadreamydeafness,whichseemstoheightenthepeacefulnessofthescene.Theyarelikeagreatcurtainofsound,shuttingoneoutfromtheworldbeyond.Andnowthereisthethunderofthehugecoveredwagoncominghomewithsacksofgrain.Thathonestwagoneristhinkingofhisdinner,gettingsadlydryintheovenatthislatehourbuthewillnottouchittillhehasfedhishorses,—thestrong,submissive,meek-eyedbeasts,who,Ifancy,arelookingmildreproachathimfrombetweentheirblinkers,thatheshouldcrackhiswhipattheminthatawfulmannerasiftheyneededthathint!Seehowtheystretchtheirshouldersuptheslopetowardthebridge,withallthemoreenergybecausetheyaresonearhome.Lookattheirgrandshaggyfeetthatseemtograspthefirmearth,atthepatientstrengthoftheirnecks,bowedundertheheavycollar,atthemightymusclesoftheirstrugglinghaunches!Ishouldlikewelltohearthemneighovertheirhardly-earnedfeedofcorn,andseethem,withtheirmoistnecksfreedfromtheharness,dippingtheireagernostrilsintothemuddypond.Nowtheyareonthebridge,anddowntheygoagainataswifter