xv RIVERSIDE LETTERS 119 



sets across the vast expanse of waters being 

 extremely beautiful ; each night the moon 

 shone brightly, so that I could go out over 

 my garden in the little rowing punt and 

 enjoy the extreme beauty and novelty of the 

 effect. 



The boathouse was, of course, a mere 

 island, the water covering the floor of the little 

 tea-room to the depth of six inches ; all the 

 things in it had to be raised on tables and 

 ledges. The tennis-court was covered by 

 four feet of water, and formed a lovely 

 calm pool to boat on. I took the oppor- 

 tunity in my boat of clipping the top of a 

 hedge which was rather too high to reach 

 under ordinary circumstances. 



The moorhens made themselves quite at 

 home amongst my shrubberies and kitchen 

 garden. I noticed that all the birds seemed 

 rather cowed by the unusual circumstances ; 

 though they stuck to the place they appeared 

 to miss the ground with their accustomed runs ; 

 this was most noticeable in the case of the little 



