It had fallen in helpless fashion, blackened and yawning, its proud head in the dust.
This grieved her deeply, and she paused to pass a tender hand over the gaping wound.

Then she went on to the gate, and there waited--waited first in calm belief, then in expectancy, and at last in a numb agony.
The sun seemed to scorch her, the light hurt her eyes, every sound made her tremble and start forward, and at last she cried aloud: "O God, why do I feel so troubled?
I who have always had peace in my heart!" But no bird even answered her.

There was a warm stillness, and just there, under these trees, there were no rabbits which could have comforted her with their living forms scuttling to and fro.
She tried to reason calmly.

Motors were uncertain things--this one might have broken down, and that had delayed her lover.

She must not stir, in case he should come and think his lateness had frightened her and that she had gone back to the house.