42 THE RING OF NATURE 



a thicket of bamboo and other growth to a pool 

 with green lawns sloping to the edge of the water, 

 with sprouting giant rhubarb and polygonum, with 

 flags, Japanese butter-burr, and many other delights. 



A duck and a mallard are swimming on the 

 pool, she talking a good deal, he taciturn as men 

 generally are. From far up the Serpentine, high 

 in air, come two birds, whose outstretched heads 

 and wings set far back proclaim them to be ducks. 

 They circle magnificently overhead, and at last 

 descend to the pool by a steep spiral and a straight 

 plane, that lands them like two ploughs on the 

 water, cutting furrows two yards in length before 

 they can pull up. 



The duck in possession chatters more shrilly 

 than ever. You can plainly hear her say, ' Send 

 the impudent baggage packing, dear, and her 

 man with her.' The drake in possession goes 

 after the new duck and chivies her round the 

 pond. It is the best way to make the other 

 drake fight, and besides, there is pleasure in 

 mixed cruelty and gallantry to the opposite sex. 

 Cruelty gets the upper hand, for he rushes at her 

 and pulls a feather out. She utters a squawk, 

 labours to her wings, and goes off up Serpentine 

 whence she came. Her mate, who ought to have 

 fought for her, takes wing too, and joins her, no 

 doubt explaining when he catches her why it 

 was. that he elected not to fight. The duck in 

 possession is plainly relieved at the upshot. It 

 seems to be on the cards that one's man may 



