4 AN APRIL MORNING 



no heed to the wind, for its sighing meant 

 nothing to them ; but at early dawn, though no 

 sound broke the silence, the cocked ears first of 

 one, then of the other, told they were all ex- 

 pectation for some signal. Soon there came the 

 faint, low call which instinct whispered was their 

 mother's, followed by the soft beat of the pads, 

 growing more and more distinct till with a 

 last bound the hare cleared the wide space 

 between the rock and the form, and at once 

 gave herself to the hungry, excited mites. Whilst 

 she suckled them, a lark rose and greeted the 

 day with notes so rapturous as to drown the 

 crowings of the cocks in the homesteads dotting 

 the plain. The leverets fed and fed till they were 

 satisfied, then settled down to rest against their 

 mother's side, where presently the sun, risen 

 above Caer Bran, discovered them, and threw a 

 bright splash of warm light across their russet 

 coats. 



It was a lovely April morning. Towards 

 noon a big black cloud came up out of the west 

 bringing needed rain, whilst a rainbow arched 

 land and sea ; and then the first call of the 

 cuckoo rang out through the stillness. Chapel 

 Carn Brea faintly echoed ** Cuckoo ! Cuckoo ! " 

 The joyous notes brought the housewife to 

 the door, checked the frolics of the wondering 



