THE EVE OF SEPARATION 37 



wife took special pride, they passed to the field of 

 mowing-grass before the house and played on 

 the heap of earth in the far corner, the hare 

 joining in the frolics with a zest she had not shown 

 since she led them up Bartinney. By this time 

 the air, which had been oppressively close, had 

 become more sultry than ever, till towards 

 midnight the impending storm broke, zigzagging 

 the inky sky with fierce lightning. Immediately 

 the silence was rent by claps of thunder, and a 

 torrent of rain followed which drenched the hares 

 before they could gain the shelter of the hedge. 

 When at length it ceased they galloped up and 

 down the path leading to the house and dried 

 themselves ; but they were drenched again before 

 dawn. They looked a forlorn little band as they 

 ambled over the fields in a downpour. Yet, 

 miserable though their plight seemed, they passed 

 a clump of brambles which at least offered a 

 partial refuge ; farther up the hill they passed 

 another, more inviting still ; indeed they kept on 

 as if regardless of all cover till they reached the 

 summit of Caer Bran, where they sought seats 

 under the furze mantling the slope of the outer 

 of the earthworks that crown it. The wind 

 blew, the rain pelted, but the high bank and 

 domed roof protected them from all discomfort 

 save that caused by the drippings of the sodden 



