The sun leaped above the mountain-tops, and the world was filled with the beauty of its golden glory.

From tree and bush and swaying weed, from forest and pasture, and garden and willow-fringed river-bank, the birds voiced their happy greetings to the new day.

But the man neither saw nor heard.
When he went to the house with his full milk-pail, and Betty Jo met him at the kitchen-door with her cheery "Good-morning!" he tried resolutely to free himself from the mood which possessed him, but only partially succeeded.

Several times, as the two faced each other across the breakfast table, Brian saw the gray eyes filled with questioning anxiety, as though Betty Jo, also, felt the presence of some forbidding spectre at the meal.
After several vain attempts to find something they could talk about, Betty Jo boldly acknowledged the situation by saying: "What in the world is the matter with us, this morning, Mr.Burns?
I am possessed with the feeling that there is some one or something behind me.

I want to look over my shoulder every minute." At her words, Brian involuntarily turned his head for a quick backward glance.
"There!" cried Betty Jo, with a nervous laugh, not at all like her normal, well-poised self.