It shone dazzlingly in Avery's eyes as the race began.
There had been a sprinkling of snow the day before, and the grass was crisp and rough.

She felt it crush under her feet with a keen sense of enjoyment.

Instinctively she put all her buoyant strength into the run.
She left Jeanie behind, overtook and passed the two younger children, and raced like a hare down the slope.

Keenly the wind whistled past her, and she rejoiced to feel its clean purity rush into her lungs.

She was for the moment absurdly, rapturously happy,--a child amongst children.
The sun went out of sight, and the darkness of the valley swallowed her.
She sped on, fleet-footed, flushed and laughing, moving as if on wings.
She neared the dark line of wood, and saw the stark, outstretched branches of the oak that was her goal.