THE COMING OF SPRING The winter began in a long rain and ended in a heavy snow which lay for a week over the country.

In the chill mornings while she dressed, Molly watched the blue-black shadows of the crows skimming over the white ground, and there was always a dumb anxiety at her heart as she looked after them.
On Christmas Eve there had been a dance at Piping Tree, and because she had danced twice with Gay (who had ridden over in obedience to a whim), Abel had parted from her in anger.

For the first time she had felt the white heat of his jealousy, and it had aroused rebellion, not acquiescence, in her heart.

Jonathan Gay was nothing to her (though he called her his cousin)--he had openly shown his preference for Blossom--but she insisted passionately that she was free and would dance with whomsoever she pleased.

To Abel's demand that she should give up "round dances" entirely, she had returned a defiant and mocking laugh.
They had parted in an outburst of temper, to rush wildly together a few days later when they met by chance in the turnpike.
"You love him, but you don't love him enough, honey," said Reuben, patting her head.