The green hedge shut off the noise of the sea--only above his head some birds were twittering.

He fancied that he heard footsteps, then that beyond the hedge something was moving.

It seemed to him that the birds were also listening for something.

"Well, it's the middle of the afternoon, anyway." He thought to himself, "He never comes there--only in the morning or evening," but he hurried forward after that, wishing that he had called to Hamlet to accompany him.

It was a pleasant climb to the farm through the green orchard, and he found at the farm door an agreeable woman who smiled at him when she gave him the milk.