Every day had brought a fresh anxiety, and now he welcomed the slackening of the strain.

The struggle had left its mark on him; one saw it in his lean, muscular symmetry, his quiet alertness, and self-confidence.

But he could relax, and found the English countryside had a soothing charm.
The sun was low and rugged hills cut against the pale-saffron sky.

The valley between was filled with blue shadow, but in the foreground a river twinkled in the fading light.

Feathery larches grew close up to the house, and a beck splashed in the gloom among their trunks.