"Um," said Redwood, then in a deeper note, "Oom!"

There came a clatter of horses and the sound of wheels, and Lady

Wondershoot's greys came into view. He marked the faces of coachman and

footman as the equipage approached. The coachman was a very fine

specimen, full and fruity, and he drove with a sort of sacramental

dignity. Others might doubt their calling and position in the world, he

at any rate was sure--he drove her ladyship. The footman sat beside him

with folded arms and a face of inflexible certainties. Then the great

lady herself became visible, in a hat and mantle disdainfully inelegant,

peering through her glasses. Two young ladies protruded necks and peered

also.

The Vicar passing on the other side swept off the hat from his David's

brow unheeded....

Redwood remained standing in the doorway for a long time after the

carriage had passed, his hands folded behind him. His eyes went to the

green, grey upland of down, and into the cloud-curdled sky, and came

back to the glass-set wall. He turned upon the cool shadows within, and

amidst spots and blurs of colour regarded the giant child amidst that

Rembrandtesque gloom, naked except for a swathing of flannel, seated

upon a huge truss of straw and playing with its toes.

"I begin to see what we have done," he said.

201

The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth