FOOTPATHS 19 



from the very earth, speaking of education, change, and 

 possibilities. 



The copse is now filling up with undergrowth; the 

 brambles are spreading, the briars extending, masses of 

 nettles, and thistles like saplings in size and height, 

 crowding the spaces between the ash-stoles. By the 

 banks great cow- parsnips or "gix" have opened their 

 broad heads of white flowers ; teazles have lifted them- 

 selves into view, every opening is occupied. There is a 

 scent of elder flowers, the meadow-sweet is pushing up, 

 and will soon be out, and an odour of new-mown hay 

 floats on the breeze. 



From the oak green caterpillars slide down threads of 

 their own making to the bushes below, but they are 

 running terrible risk. For a pair of white-throats or 

 " nettle-creepers " are on the watch, and seize the green 

 creeping things crossways in their beaks. Then they 

 perch on a branch three or four yards only from where 

 I stand, silent and motionless, and glance first at me and 

 next at a bush of bramble which projects out to the edge 

 of the footpath. So long as my eyes are turned aside, 

 or half closed, the bird perches on the branch, gaining 

 confidence every moment. The instant I open my eyes, 

 or move them, or glance towards him, without either 

 movement of head, hand, or foot, he is off to the oak. 



His tiny eyes are intent on mine ; the moment he 

 catches my glance he retires. But in half a minute 

 affection brings him back, still with the caterpillar in his 

 beak, to the same branch. Whilst I have patience to 

 look the other way there he stays, but again a glance 

 sends him away. This is repeated four or five times, 

 till, finally, convinced that I mean no harm and yet 

 timorous and fearful of betrayal even in the act, he dives 

 down into the bramble bush. 



