THE SOD ON THE PANE
Gradually he had worked his way around the clearing, and around that point where the drive turned from it to descend the hill.The road was visible for several rods below him. He was more upon it now than the drive. Linnets crossed it, and rabbits; and presently a man came into sight around the bend and approached. This person appeared as a midget of the landscape, a little dab of humanity among trees, like those figures painters introduce, merely for the sake of showing the superiority of the trees; thus he seemed, until he had come far enough to stand opposite and fix his attention on Carron. Then, perforce, the figure was resolved into its separate identity, one that had been met and known under circumstances rather odd and which had scarcely recommended themselves.
Carron nodded to him, wishing him good morning. He had no renewal of antagonism. The disparity in strength was too great. This fellow, Ferrier, appeared not to thrive in the early morning hours. He looked pinched and hugged his arms as if he were chilly, and Carron revolved the problem as to whether there was any way of putting him in possession of a decent coat for the winter, at the same time not letting his pride suffer. That was as threadbare as his clothes—no doubt as sensitive to strain. The man was watching him rather longer
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