126 ^^Qtzni of ^airfieltJ 



be a gate in it ; if not, he must get over it ; and if he does 

 so, high enough up, it may save another dimb. The nearer 

 the ridge, the fewer the remaining walls between him and 

 liberty. Once in the forest, Christopher North's advice 

 comes into his mind, — unspoiled by the fear — only too 

 reasonable in the lower part of the park — of being turned 

 out of the paradise very summarily. * The sylvan or rather, 

 the forest scenery of Rydal Park,' says Professor Wilson, 

 * was, in the memory of living man, magnificent ; and it 

 still contains a treasure of old trees. By all means wander 

 away into these old woods, and lose yourself for an hour 

 or two among the cooing of cushats and the shrill shriek of 

 startled blackbirds, and the rustle of the harmless slow-worm 

 among last years' beech leaves. No great harm should you 

 even fall asleep under the shadow of an oak, whilst the 

 magpie chatters at safe distance, and the more innocent 

 squirrel peeps dow upon you from a bough of the canopy, 

 and then, hoisting his tail, glides into the obscurity of the 

 loftiest umbrage.' Ascending from these shades, through 

 a more straggling woodland, the stranger arrives at a clump 

 on the ridge, — the last clump, and thenceforth feels himself 

 wholly free. His foot is on the springy mountain-moss : 

 and many a cushion of heather tempts him to sit down 

 and look abroad. There may be a frightened cow or two, 

 wheeling away, with tail aloft, as he comes onwards; and 

 a few sheep are still crouching in the shadows of the rocks, 

 or staring at him from the knolls. If he plays the child 

 and bleats, he will soon see how many there are. It is 

 one of the amusements of a good mimic in such places to 

 bring about him all the animals there are, by imitating 

 their cries. One may assemble a flock of sheep, and lead 

 them far out of bounds in this way ; and bewildered enough 

 they look when the bleat ceases, and they are left to find . 



