XII。
ThepicnicwasheldinWhitwell’sClearing，onthesideofLion’sHead，wherethemoss，almostaswhiteassnow，laylikebelateddriftsamongthetall，thingrasswhichoverranthespaceopenedbytheaxe，andcrepttothevergeofthelowpinesgrowingintheshelteroftheloftierwoods。ItwastheendofoneofWhitwell’s\"TrampsHometoNature，\"ashecalledhiswalksandtalkswiththeladies，andonthisdayWestover’sfellow—painterhadaddedtohislessonsinwoodloretheclaimsofart，intendingthathisclassshouldmakestudiesofvariousbitsintheclearing，andshouldtrytocatchsomethingofitspeculiarcharm。HeaskedWestoverwhathethoughtofthenotion，andWestovergaveithisapproval，whichbecameenthusiasticwhenhesawtheplace。Hefoundinitthemelancholygrace，thepoignantsentimentofruinwhichexpressesitselfinsomemeasurewherevermanhasinvadednatureandthenlefthisconquesttoheragain。InWhitwell’sClearingtheeffectwasintensifiedbytheapproachonthefadingwoodroad，whichthewagonshadmadeinformerdayswhentheyhauledthefallentimbertothepulp—mill。Inplacesitwassovagueandfaintastobehardlyatrail；inothers，wherethewheel—tracksremainedvisible，thetreeshadsentoutanewgrowthoflowerbranchesintheplaceofthoseloppedaway，andalmostforbadetheadvanceoffoot—passengers。TheladiessaidtheydidnotseehowJeffwasevergoingtogetthroughwiththewagon，andtheyexpressedfearsforthelunchhewasbringing，whichseemedonlytoowellgrounded。
ButWhitwell，whowasleadingthemon，said：\"YouletaDurginalonetodoathingwhenhe’smadeuphismindtoit。Iguessyou’llhaveyourlunchallright\"；andbythetimethattheyhadgotenoughofBrowningtheyheardthewelcomesoundofwheelscrashingupondeadboughsandswishingthroughtheunderbrush，and，inthepausesofthesepleasantnoises，thevoiceofJeffDurginencouraginghishorses。Thechildrenofthepartybrokeawaytomeethim，andthenhecameinsightaheadofhisteam，lookingstrongandhandsomeinhiskeepingwiththescene：Beforehegotwithinhearing，theladiesmurmuredahymnofpraisetohistypeofbeauty；theysaidhelookedlikeayoungHercules，andWestoverownedwithaninwardsmilethatJeffhadcertainlymadethebestofhimselfforthetimebeing。Hehadtakenaleaffromthebookofthesummerfolks；
hisstalwartcalvesrevealedthemselvesinthick，ribbedstockings；heworeknickerbockersandaNorfolkjacketofcorduroy；hehadstyleaswellasbeauty，andhehadthecourageofhisclothesandlooks。
WestoverwasstillinthefirstsurpriseoftheAmericanfacts，andhewonderedjustwhatpartinthepicnicJeffwastobearsocially。Hewasneitherquitehostnorguest；butnodoubtintheeasyplayofthelife，whichWestoverwasratherproudtofindsocharming，thequestionwouldsolveitselfrationallyandgracefully。