A winding sheet was on the marriage bed.

‘Twas warmer now; the sky grew overcast;

And as Hugh strode southwestward, all the vast

Gray void seemed suddenly astir with wings

And multitudinary whisperings—

The muffled sibilance of tumbling snow.

It seemed no more might living waters flow,

Moon gleam, star glint, dawn smoulder through, bird sing,

Or ever any fair familiar thing

Be so again. The outworn winds were furled.