AS I WAS GOING TO ST. IVES 95 



gives an added sweetness ; but these oranges of St. Ives are 

 worth going a long way to taste. So we walked through the 

 orchard and picked the yellow fruit, and ate it as we went, 

 without the aid of knives or plates ; and believe me, that is 

 the only way to get the best of an orange. Then we came 

 across some trees of Sevilles, and my housewifely soul turned 

 to thoughts of marmalade ; so we added a dozen of the pretty 

 things to our bag, and then made once more for the road and 

 home. 



We chose the highway this time, for the gullies are dank 

 when the sun has left them. Far to the westward the trees 

 on the hilltops made a fine black etching against the topaz sky ; 

 to the east the tall timber stood behind the orchards; 

 away to the south glittered the lights of the city, twinkling 

 like brilliants in the clear air, and overhead the comet streamed 

 across the sky. The bag of oranges was heavy, and a good 

 six miles lay before us ; but our hearts were light, for the 

 motors had all gone home, and what is six miles on a silent, 

 starlit road? 



