AlthoughwellnightheendofMarch，thewindblewwildandpiercing，asIwentonfootthatafternoontoMotherMelldrum’sdwelling。Itwassafernottotakeahorse，lestifanythingvexedhersheshouldputaspelluponhim；ashadbeendonetoFarmerSnowe’sstablebythewisewomanofSimonsbath。
ThesunwaslowontheedgeofthehillsbythetimeI
enteredthevalley，forIcouldnotleavehometillthecattleweretended，andthedistancewassevenmilesormore。Theshadowsofrocksfellfaranddeep，andthebrowndeadfernwasfluttering，andbrambleswiththeirsereleaveshanging，swayedtheirtatterstoandfro，witharedlookonthem。Inpatchesunderneaththecrags，afewwildgoatswerebrowsing；thentheytossedtheirhorns，andfled，andleapedonledges，andstaredatme。Moreover，thesoundoftheseacameup，andwentthelengthofthevalley，andthereitlappedonabuttofrocks，andmurmuredlikeashell。
Takingthingsonewithanother，andfeelingallthelonesomeness，andhavingnostickwithme，Iwasmuchinclinedtogobrisklyback，andcomeatabetterseason。AndwhenIbeheldatallgreyshape，ofsomethingoranother，movingatthelowerendofthevalley，wheretheshadewas，itgavemesuchastrokeoffear，aftermanyothers，thatmythumbwhichlayinmother’sBiblebroughtinmybigpocketforthesakeofsafetyshooksomuchthatitcameout，andIcouldnotgetitinagain。’Thisservesmeright，’Isaidtomyself，’fortamperingwithBeelzebub。OhthatIhadlistenedtoparson!’
AndthereuponIstruckaside；notlikingtorunawayquite，assomepeoplemightcallit；butseekingtolooklikeawandererwhowascometoseethevalley，andhadseenalmostenoughofit。HereinIshouldhavesucceeded，andgonehome，andthenbeenangryatmywantofcourage，butthatontheveryturnandbendingofmyfootsteps，thewomaninthedistanceliftedupherstafftome，sothatIwasboundtostop。