The Man

The story opens in a sun‑drenched churchyard, where ancient stone walls are draped in lichen and surrounded by a riot of blooming trees—laburnum, lilac, hawthorn, and a towering cedar. The quiet rustle of leaves and the lazy flow of a nearby stream create a dreamy backdrop for the scene. The atmosphere feels both tranquil and slightly uncanny, as if the past is lingering just out of reach.

Seated on an old tombstone are a young hunter in bright red attire and a striking fourteen‑year‑old girl dressed in a scarlet riding habit, both poised as if listening to a secret conversation. Their contrasting backgrounds—his athletic, seasoned presence and her proud, mixed‑heritage beauty—suggest a complex bond that may challenge social expectations. Nearby, a village child declares, “I would rather be an angel than God,” a simple yet provocative line that hints at the deeper moral questions the tale will explore.