For a moment they struggled fearfully, they seemed to be endowed instantaneously with innumerable legs, and then suddenly they fell through the door of the caravan into the interior, their limbs seemed to whirl for a wonderful instant and then they were swallowed up.... The smash was tremendous. You would not have thought there was nearly so much in the caravan still left to get broken.... A healing silence.... At length smothered noises of still inadequate adjustment within.... The village population in a state of scared delight appeared at a score of points and converged upon the catastrophe. Sounds of renewed dissension between William and the Professor inside the rearing yellow bulk, promised further interests and added an element of mystery to this manifest disaster. § 12 As Bealby, still grasping his great branch of yew, watched these events, a sense of human futility invaded his youthful mind. For the first time he realized the gulf between intention and result. He had meant so well.... He perceived it would be impossible to explain.... The thought of even attempting to explain things to Professor Bowles was repellent to him.... He looked about him with round despairful eyes. He selected a direction which seemed to promise the maximum of concealment with the minimum of conversational possibility, and in that direction and without needless delay he set off, eager to turn over an entirely fresh page in his destiny as soon as possible.... To get away, the idea possessed all his being. From the crest of the downs a sweet voice floated after his retreating form and never overtook him. “Di-ick!” § 13 Then presently Miss Philips arose to her feet, gathered her skirts in her hand and with her delicious chin raised and an expression of countenance that was almost businesslike, descended towards the gathering audience below. She wore wide-flowing skirts and came down the hill in Artemesian strides. It was high time that somebody looked at her. CHAPTER V THE SEEKING OF BEALBY § 1