Violet Jacob > Irresolute Catherine

52 IRRESOLUTE CATHERINE
gaze. Nothing moved upon the hill-slopes
rising on their left hand to bank themselves
against the stars.
The horse was a fast walker and they had
kept to a foot’s pace the whole way. All
at once a stone, loosened perhaps from its
bed on a higher level by the foot of some
grazing sheep, came rolling down the hill¬
side. They could hear it coming almost
from the start of its downward career,
though in the darkness it was impossible to
guess at what point it might cross their
way. The horse cocked his ears and sidled,
and Heber shortened his rein, holding the
girl as in a vice.
The thing bounded across their path, a
dim, shapeless, momentary flash of grey on
its irresponsible journey from nowhere to
nowhere, and the startled beast planted his
forefeet and would have turned but for
Heber’s strong hand and the grip of his
knees. As she felt the swerve, Catherine
threw her arms round the rider with a sob