They were the mummied heathbells of the past summer, originally tender and purple, now washed colourless by Michaelmas rains, and dried to dead skins by October suns.

它们是干瘪皱缩的石南花，夏天里它们本来花瓣娇嫩，一片淡紫色，现在让米迦勒节的秋雨洗去了颜色，又让十月的艳阳晒成了干皮。