The valley on the
further side was all copper-green level and glazed pearly sky, a
sky hatched across with screens of trimmed trees, which looked
flat, like espaliers; and though the rest of the village straggled
away in the near quarter the view had an emptiness that made one of
the boats suggestive. Such a river set one afloat almost before
one could take up the oars--the idle play of which would be
moreover the aid to the full impression. This perception went so
far as to bring him to his feet; but that movement, in turn, made
him feel afresh that he was tired, and while he leaned against a
post and continued to look out he saw something that gave him a
sharper arrest.
IV
What he saw was exactly the right thing--a boat advancing round the
bend and containing a man who held the paddles and a lady, at the
stern, with a pink parasol. It was suddenly as if these figures,
or something like them, had been wanted in the picture, had been
wanted more or less all day, and had now drifted into sight, with
the slow current, on purpose to fill up the measure. They came
slowly, floating down, evidently directed to the landing-place near
their spectator and presenting themselves to him not less clearly
as the two persons for whom his hostess was already preparing a
meal.
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