The sweet-scented smoke of the distant forest fires had diffused itself all day in the atmosphere more and more palpably.

It was not a gloomy effect, and familiar to eyes accustomed to the Canadian August.

All the sunbeams were very pink, and they fell flickering among the shadows of the pear tree upon Markham's grey wooden house, upon the path and the ragged green in front.

Ann had pleasant associations with these pink beams because they told of fine weather.

Smoke will not lie thus in an atmosphere that is molested with any currents of wind that might bring cloud or storm.