38 ALONE 



bushes. This the creatures endured through the 

 long day without once stirring in their forms. 



The hare rose at her usual time, but instead 

 of settinof out forthwith as was her custom she 

 went to where the jack lay and licked his face 

 again and again, which she had not done since 

 he was weaned. What was the meaning of this 

 extraordinary display of affection ? Was it to 

 solace him for the severity of her schooling and 

 growing coldness ? Not at all. It was to mark 

 the moment of separation ; it was her last office 

 to him ; it was her farewell greeting. The jack 

 understood ; his behaviour showed it. For 

 when presently his mother and sister set out, he, 

 hitherto always the second afoot, remained in the 

 form and watched them pass from sight. As the 

 bushes hid them, he was on the point of rising to 

 follow, but restrained himself and sat listening as 

 if in expectation of the call. The low bleat for 

 which he hearkened did not come ; there was no 

 sound but the moan of the wind about the old 

 earthworks. Then the seriousness of the position 

 came home to him : his mother and sister had 

 gone out of his life ; the freedom for which he had 

 been yearning was at last his. Was he elated ? 

 Far from it. A sense of forlornness possessed 

 him, but this was soon to be banished by the 

 high spirits that surged through him and thrilled 



