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The traitor's way
The traitor's way

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The traitor's way
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.
The same thoughts were running in our minds.
Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.
Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.
And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The traitor's way

Chapter X

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.
Line 2
The same thoughts were running in our minds.
Line 3
Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.
Line 4
Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.
Line 5
And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Running noun US /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The same thoughts were running in our minds.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The same thoughts were running in our minds.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.”

All words in this reading · 87

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

blame

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

branches

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

cannot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

casting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

chances

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

changing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

Condé

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

de

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

despair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

destroying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

difficulty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

emprise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

feet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

gone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

huge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

increased

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

lion's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

lives

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

Madame

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

minds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The same thoughts were running in our minds.

mottled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

mouth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

Perhaps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

plans

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

Ponthieu

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

presentiment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

reined

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

runningnounUS /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The same thoughts were running in our minds.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The same thoughts were running in our minds.

seized

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

shade

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

sight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

snow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

spreading

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

straight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

stroke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

success

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

tenfold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

things

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

thoughts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The same thoughts were running in our minds.

threw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

too

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

totally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Madame de Condé had at one stroke, by changing her plans, gone straight into the lion’s mouth, and had increased tenfold the difficulty of our emprise, if not totally destroying all chances of its success.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Perhaps something too of the same despair had seized us, a presentiment that we were casting away our lives for nothing.

VISION

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

watched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

WEpronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The same thoughts were running in our minds.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

WOOD

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet, now that I look back upon things, I cannot blame her.

yoke-elm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VISION OF THE WOOD WE had reined up under a huge yoke-elm, whose spreading branches threw a mottled shade on the snow at our feet, and watched Ponthieu in silence until he went quite out of our sight.