The evening light now painted upon the little green lawn strange trembling shadows of purple and grey; the old red garden wall seemed to have crept forwards, as though it would protect the house and the garden from the night; and a sky of the faintest blue seemed, with gentle approval, to bless the quiet town fading into dusk beneath it.

Over the centre of the lawn the sun was still shining, and there it was warm and light.

But from every side the shadows stealthily crept forward.

A group of children played against the golden colour, their white dresses patterns that formed figures and broke and formed again.

The Cathedral bell was ringing for evensong, and its notes stole about the garden, and in and out amongst the children, as though some guardian spirit watching over their safety counted their numbers.
Jeremy, feeling rather neglected and miserable, stood in the shadow near the oak on the farther side of the lawn.