THE RIVER, 137 



aspects of the succeeding reaches change. Upon 

 one broad bend the tints are green, for the river 

 moves softly in a hollow, with its back as it were, to 

 the wind. 



The green lawn sloping to the shore, and the dark 

 cedar's storeys of flattened foliage, tier above tier ; 

 the green osiers of two eyots ; the light-leaved aspen ; 

 the tall elms, fresh and green ; and the green haw- 

 thorn bushes give their colour to the water, smooth 

 as if polished, in which they are reflected. A white 

 swan floats in the still narrow channel between the 

 eyots, and there is a punt painted green moored in 

 a little inlet by the lawn, and scarce visible under 

 drooping boughs. Eoofs of red tile and dormer 

 windows rise behind the trees, the dull yellow of the 

 walls is almost hidden, and deep shadows lurk about 

 the shore. 



Opposite, across the stream, a wide green sward 

 stretches beside the towing path, lit up with sunshine 

 which touches the dandelions till they glow in the 

 grass. From time to time a nightingale sings in a 

 hawthorn unregarded, and in the elms of the park 

 hard by a crowd of jackdaws chatter. But a little 

 way round a curve the whole stream opens to the 

 sunlight and becomes blue, reflecting the sky. Again, 

 sweeping round another curve with bounteous flow, 

 the current meets the wind direct, a cloud comes up, 

 the breeze freshens, and the watery green waves are 

 tipped with foam. 



Eolling upon the strand, they leave a line like a 

 tide marked by twigs and fragments of dead wood, 

 leaves, and the hop-like flowers of Chichester elms 



