THISTLE-DOWN 



19 



And so we talked for half-an-hour, standing in the 

 glorious morning sunshine, the green withdrawing sea 

 growing smoother by degrees, but far out we could see 

 it still rough with big rollers, foam-crested ; the little 

 ringed dotterels and the large grey plover running 

 about on the sand and feeding unconcerned near us ; 

 the big patient horses standing with masses of wet 

 seaweed glistening at their feet. It was very wonder- 

 ful, and I was happy and laughed with the old carter 

 as we talked ; but the thought of Jefferies, slain before 

 his time by hateful destiny, still haunted me, and deep 

 down beneath my happiness was an ineffable sadness. 



r 



GREY PLOVER AND RINGED DOTTERELS 



