THE LAP OF PROSERPINE 115 



of catkins on the earliest sallows, a silky brightness 

 that trembled like dew in the sun ; and the tassels of 

 the hazel, three months old now, were also swelling to 

 flower. 



During February a general stir and a whisper 

 moved within the lanes, and no fear of possible frosts 

 stayed the activity of the living things there. The 

 young growths of perennial speedwells were turning 

 purple at their crowns and waking into action ; while 

 the seeds of annual speedwells germinated and spread 

 twin leaves, like wings. Honeysuckles were in strong 

 leaf of jade-green perched daintily in bunches along 

 their bines ; bluebell foliage had appeared above 

 ground in little stars of green spikes; the adult catkins 

 of the hazel showered their yellow pollen and, like 

 tiny sea-anemones with crimson tentacles, the fruitful 

 blossoms, clinging to the naked stems beneath, re- 

 ceived it, and marked where nuts should come in 

 season. Many mosses at this time were fruiting and 

 many had long been in fruit. With sweet earth-smell 

 they glimmer, all be-diamonded even on driest days, 

 for they draw up moisture and display it in a twink- 

 ling haze upon their feathers and cushions and deli- 

 cate leaves throughout the Winter. Sometimes they 

 freeze so, and shine out from silvery frostwork 

 of ice. 



There is a pond in the lane where I work, and 

 from it, as the second month departs, there arise the 

 love -croaks of frogs, where lances of light come 

 through the hedge and gleam in the water. Here 



