Theraindropsnowwerefallingmoregently，andinfinerlinesandmoretransparentnetwork，sothatonecouldoncemoredescrythegreattrunksoftheblackenedoaks，withthegreenandgoldoftheirleaves。Also，ourownhollowhadgrownlessdark，andtherecouldbediscerneditssmoky，satin-brightwalls。FromthosewallsKalininpickedabitofcharcoalwithfingerandthumb，saying:
“Itwasshepherdsthatfiredtheplace。Seewheretheydraggedinhayanddeadleaves！Ashepherd’sfifehereaboutsmustbeatrulygloriousone！“
Lastly，claspinghisheadasthoughhewereabouttofallasleep，hesankhischinbetweenhisknees，andrelapsedintosilence。
Presentlyabrilliant，sinuouslittlerivuletwhichhadlongbeenlavingthebarerootsofourtreebroughtfloatingpastusaredandfawnleaf。
“Howpretty，“Ithought，“thatleafwilllookfromadistancewhenreposingonthesurfaceofthesea！For，likethesunwhenheisinsolitarypossessionoftheheavens，thatleafwillstandoutagainsttheblue，silkyexpanselikealonelyredstar。“