pitiably, but uttering no cry. What had caused the fear that
overpowered him?

I was soon to know.

I called to the dog; he remained immovable--conscious of some
mysterious coming thing that held him spellbound. I tried to go
to the poor creature, and fondle and comfort him.

At the first step forward that I took, something stopped me.

It was not to be seen, and not to be heard. It stopped me.

The still figure of the dog disappeared from my view: the lonely
scene round me disappeared--excepting the light from heaven, the
tree that sheltered me, and the grass in front of me. A sense of
unutterable expectation kept my eyes riveted on the grass.
Suddenly, I saw its myriad blades rise erect and shivering. The
fear came to me of something passing over them with the invisible
swiftness of the wind. The shivering advanced. It was all round
me. It crept into the leaves of the tree over my head; they
shuddered, without a sound to tell of their agitation; their
pleasant natural rustling was struck dumb. The song of the birds
had ceased. The cries of the water-fowl on the pond were heard no
more. There was a dreadful silence.

But the lovely sunshine poured down on me, as brightly as ever.

In that dazzling light, in that fearful silence, I felt an
Invisible Presence near me. It touched me gently.