ThroughoutthelongwatchesofthenightIfollowthem；andintheearlymorningtheyslideby，theireyespaleinthetwilight；whilethestarsflickerandfade，andthegaslampsdiedownintoadullyellowblotchagainstthegloryandglowofanewday。
CHAPTERII
FEBRUARYishere，Februaryfill-dyke；themonthofpurification，ofcleansingrainsandpulsingboundingstreams，andwhitemistclinginginsistenttofieldandhedgerowsothatwhenherveiliswithdrawngreennessmaymakeusglad。
Theriverhasbeenuniformlygreyoflate，withnowindtoruffleitssurfaceortospeedthebargesdroppingslowlyandsullenlydownwiththetidethroughablurringhaze。Iwatchedoneyesterday，itsuselesssailshalf-furledandnosignoflifesavethemanatthehelm。Itdriftedstealthilypast，andalittlebehind，flyinglow，cameasolitaryseagull，greyastheriver\'shaze-afollowingbird。
OnceagainIlayonmybackinthebottomofthetarryoldfishingsmack，blueskyaboveandnosoundbuttheknock，knockofthewaves，andthethudandcurloffallingfoamastheoldboat\'sbluntnosebreastedthecomingsea。ThenDaddyWhiddonspoke。