A JOURNAL KEPT IN THE COUNTRY. 261 



watched the landscape and the children making their 

 good-bye holiday beneath us. I thought of the longer 

 good-byes to be made in four or five summers' time, 

 when Bob and Peter and Alice shall go to the ends 

 of the earth ; but shall keep, I trust, the memory of 

 these hills and woods to say to them when they need 

 it" England ; " and perhaps to steer them back in 

 due time to the green meadows, to gather mush- 

 rooms staidly, while the next children shout and 

 race below. 



Teatime closed the long afternoon, and brought 

 back the foragers with their pink-and-silver spoils, 

 no swarthy-gilled ancients amongst that plenty. 

 Back to the garden again, with tea under the beeches, 

 and romps not perceptibly affected by any thought 

 that they are the last. Then good-byes some 

 for weeks and weeks but all full of cheerful 

 noise. 



I find myself the last to go, receiving from Alice 

 orders as to the tastes of a dormouse which I am to 

 take care of for her while she and Aunt Lyddy and 

 Uncle Phil are away. 



" But suppose I go away too ? " 



" You ? " says Alice, with fine scorn, putting me 

 in my place and showing serene appreciation of the 



