by。 The darkness was of their shadows and the covering of their
faces。 When he went through the Canal bridge； the evening glowed
in its last deep colours； the sky was dark blue； the stars
glittered from afar； very remote and approaching above the
darkening cluster of the farm； above the paths of crystal along
the edge of the heavens。
She waited for him like the glow of light； and as if his face
were covered。 And he dared not lift his face to look at her。
Corn harvest came on。 One evening they walked out through the
farm buildings at nightfall。 A large gold moon hung heavily to
the grey horizon； trees hovered tall； standing back in the dusk；
waiting。 Anna and the young man went on noiselessly by the
hedge； along where the farm…carts had made dark ruts in the
grass。 They came through a gate into a wide open field where
still much light seemed to spread against their faces。 In the
under…shadow the sheaves lay on the ground where the reapers had
left them； many sheaves like bodies prostrate in shadowy bulk；
others were riding hazily in shocks； like ships in the haze of
moonlight and of dusk； farther off。
They did not want to turn back； yet whither were they to go；
towards the moon？ For they were separate； single。
〃We will put up some sheaves；〃 said Anna。 So they could
remain there in the broad； open place。
They went across the stubble to where the long rows of
upreared shocks ended。 Curiously populous that part of the field
looked； where the shocks rode erect； the rest was open and
prostrate。
The air was all hoary silver。 She looked around her。 Trees
stood vaguely at their distance； as if waiting like heralds； for
the signal to approach。 In this space of vague crystal her heart
seemed like a bell ringing。 She was afraid lest the sound should
be heard。
〃You take this row；〃 she said to the youth； and passing on；
she stooped in the next row of lying sheaves； grasping her hands
in the tresses of the oats； lifting the heavy corn in either
hand； carrying it； as it hung heavily against her； to the
cleared space； where she set the two sheaves sharply down；
bringing them together with a faint； keen clash。 Her two bulks
stood leaning together。 He was ing； walking shadowily with
the gossamer dusk； carrying his two sheaves。 She waited near…by。
He set his sheaves with a keen； faint clash； next to her
sheaves。 They rode unsteadily。 He tangled the tresses of corn。
It hissed like a fountain。 He looked up and laughed。
Then she turned away towards the moon； which seemed glowingly
to uncover her bosom every time she faced it。 He went to the
vague emptiness of the field opposite； dutifully。
They stooped； grasped the wet； soft hair of the corn； lifted
the heavy bundles； and returned。 She was always first。 She set
down her sheaves； making a pent…house with those others。 He was
ing shadowy across the stubble； carrying his bundles； She
turned away； hearing only the sharp hiss of his mingling corn。
She walked between the moon and his shadowy figure。
She took her two new sheaves and walked towards him； as he
rose from stooping over the earth。 He was ing out of the near
distance。 She set down her sheaves to make a new stook。 They
were unsure。 Her hands fluttered。 Yet she broke away； and turned
to the moon； which laid bare her bosom； so she felt as if her
bosom were heaving and panting with moonlight。 And he had to put
up her two sheaves； which had fallen down。 He worked in silence。
The rhythm of the work carried him away again； as she was ing
near。
They worked together； ing and going； in a rhythm； which
carried their feet and their bodies in tune。 She stooped； she
lifted the burden of sheaves； she turned her face to the dimness
where he was； and went with her burden over the stubble。 She
hesitated； set down her sheaves； there was a swish and hiss of
mingling oats； he was drawing near； and she must turn again。 And
there was the flaring moon laying bare her bosom again； making
her drift and ebb like a wave。
He worked steadily； engrossed； threading backwards and
forwards like a shuttle across the strip of cleared stubble；
weaving the long line of riding shocks； nearer and nearer to the
shadowy trees； threading his sheaves with hers。
And always； she was gone before he came。 As he came； she drew
away； as he drew away； she came。 Were they never to meet？
Gradually a low； deep…sounding will in him vibrated to her；
tried to set her in accord； tried to bring her gradually to him；
to a meeting； till they should be together； till they should
meet as the sheaves that swished together。
And the work went on。 The moon grew brighter； clearer； the
corn glistened。 He bent over the prostrate bundles； there was a
hiss as the sheaves left the ground； a trailing of heavy bodies
against him； a dazzle of moonlight on his eyes。 And then he was
setting the corn together at the stook。 And she was ing
near。
He waited for her； he fumbled at the stook。 She came。 But she
stood back till he drew away。 He saw her in shadow； a dark
column； and spoke to her； and she answered。 She saw the
moonlight flash question on his face。 But there was a space
between them； and he went away； the work carried them；
rhythmic。
Why was there always a space between them； why were they
apart？ Why； as she came up from under the moon； would she halt
and stand off from him？ Why was he held away from her？ His will
drummed persistently； darkly； it drowned everything else。
Into the rhythm of his work there came a pulse and a steadied
purpose。 He stooped； he lifted the weight； he heaved it towards
her； setting it as in her； under the moonlit space。 And he went
back for more。 Ever with increasing closeness he lifted the
sheaves and swung striding to the centre with them； ever he
drove her more nearly to the meeting； ever he did his share； and
drew towards her； overtaking her。 There was only the moving to
and fro in the moonlight； engrossed； the swinging in the
silence； that was marked only by the splash of sheaves； and
silence； and a splash of sheaves。 And ever the splash of his
sheaves broke swifter； beating up to hers； and ever the splash
of her sheaves recurred monotonously； unchanging； and ever the
splash of his sheaves beat nearer。
Till at last； they met at the shock； facing each other；
sheaves in hand。 And he was silvery with moonlight； with a
moonlit； shadowy face that frightened her。 She waited for
him。
〃Put yours down；〃 she said。
〃No； it's your turn。〃 His voice was twanging and
insistent。
She set her sheaves against the shock。 He saw her hands
glisten among the spray of grain。 And he dropped his sheaves and
he trembled as he took her in his arms。 He had over…taken her；
and it was his privilege to kiss her。 She was sweet and fresh
with the night air； and sweet with the scent of grain。 And the
whole rhythm of him beat into his kisses； and still he pursued
her； in his kisses； and still she e。 He
wondered over the moonlight on her nose！ All the moonlight upon
her； all the darkness within her！ All the night in his arms；
darkness and shine； he possessed of it all！ All the night for
him now； to unfold； to venture within； all the mystery to be
entered； all the discovery to be made。
Trembling with keen triumph； his heart was white as a star as
he drove his kisses nearer。
〃My love！〃 she called； in a low voice； from afar。 The low
sound seemed to call to him from far off； under the moon； to him
who was unaware。 He stopped； quivered； and listened。
〃My love；〃 came again the low； plaintive call； like a bird
unseen in the night。
He was afraid。 His heart quivered and broke。 He was
stopped。
〃Anna；〃 he said； as if he answered her from a distance；
unsure。
〃My love。〃
And he drew near； and she drew near。
〃Anna；〃 he said； in wonder and the birthpain of love。
〃My love；〃 she said； her voice growing rapturous。 And they
kissed on the mouth； in rapture and surprise； long； real kisses。
The kiss lasted； there among the moonlight。 He kissed her again；
and she kissed him。 And again they were kissing together。 Till
something happened in him； he was strange。 He wanted her。 He
wanted her exceedingly。 She was something new。 They stood there
folded； su