He called it solid comfort.

He liked to sit out from under the porch roof, he said; he wanted to see more of the sky.

The others moved their chairs down to join him in the celestial vision.

There had blown across the heaven a feathery, thin cloud or two, but save for these, there was nothing but glorious and tender, brilliant blue.

It seemed so clear and close one marvelled the little church spire in the distance did not pierce it; yet, at the same time, the eye ascended miles and miles into warm, shimmering ether.