DAYS IN DOVE DALE 87 



old and young many of them very pretty ; 

 and it was really quite amusing to see them 

 paddling about with their naked feet in the 

 water, 



11 Some of them washing with the liquid dew 

 From off their dainty limbs the dusty sweat 

 And soil, which did defile their lovely hue ; 

 Others lay shaded from the scorching heat " 



(SPENSER), 



not in the least abashed by the knowledge 

 that they were " the cynosures of neighb'ring 

 eyes." 



Farther down the Dale I saw a troop of 

 donkeys, all with side-saddles. Were they 

 waiting the return of the nuns ? If so, I 

 should have liked to see them mounted. 

 What a grotesque cavalcade it must have been ! 

 We might have fancied ourselves in Spain, to 

 see these stately dames in their closely-fitting 

 hoods, white kerchiefs round their bonny 

 cheeks, and flowing snowy lappets, ambling 

 down the Dale, or scrambling in double file 

 over the rocky banks. 



August 1 3th. Now our pleasant holiday is 

 drawing to a close ; this is our last day. Alas ! 

 to-morrow must we quit these pleasant hills 



