Under the orchard one warm window shone in Swineshead Farm.

Paul glanced round.
Behind, the houses stood on the brim of the dip, black against the sky, like wild beasts glaring curiously with yellow eyes down into the darkness.

It was the town that seemed savage and uncouth, glaring on the clouds at the back of him.

Some creature stirred under the willows of the farm pond.

It was too dark to distinguish anything.
He was close up to the next stile before he saw a dark shape leaning against it.