As they looked down into the south the
white light was so fierce that they could but faintly discern objects
through it; but here and there they caught a glimpse of a square
church-tower or of a few rude cottages clustered on the high plain,
and these seemed to be of a transparent gray in the blinding glare of
the sun.
Then suddenly in front of them they found a deep chasm, with the white
road leading down through its cool shadows. There was the channel of
a stream, with the rocks looking purple amid the gray bushes; and
here were rich meadows, with cattle standing deep in the grass and the
daisies; and over there, on the other side, a strip of forest, with
the sunlight shining along one side of the tall and dark-green pines.
As they drove down into this place, which is called the Rocky Valley,
a magpie rose from one of the fields and flew up into the firs.
"That is sorrow," said Mabyn.
Another one rose and flew up to the same spot.
"And that is joy," she said, with her face brightening.
"Oh, but I saw another as we came to the brow of the hill, and that
means a marriage," her companion remarked to her.
"Oh no," she said quite eagerly, "I am sure there was no third one: I
am certain there were only two. I am quite positive we only saw two."
"But why should you be so anxious?" Trelyon said, "You know you ought
to be looking forward to a marriage, and that is always a happy thing.
Are you envious, Mabyn?"
The girl was silent for a moment or two.
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