THE PAGEANT OF SUMMER 



grown willow, and its slender branches 

 extend over the sward. Beyond it is an 

 oak, just apart from the bushes; then the 

 ground gently rises, and an ancient pollard 

 ash, hollow and black inside, guards an 

 open gateway like a low tower. The differ- 

 ent tone of green shows that the hedge is 

 there of nut-trees ; but one great hawthorn 

 spreads out in a semicircle roofing the 

 grass which is yet more verdant in the still 

 pool (as it were) under it. Next a corner, 

 more oaks, and a chestnut in bloom. Re- 

 turning to this spot an old apple-tree stands 

 right out in the meadow like an island. 

 There seemed just now the tiniest twinkle 

 of movement by the rushes, but it was lost 

 among the hedge parsley. Among the 

 grey leaves of the willow there is another 

 flit of motion ; and visible now against the 

 sky there is a little brown bird, not to be 

 distinguished at the moment from the 

 many other little brown birds that are 

 known to be about. He got up into the 

 willow from the hedge parsley somehow, 



