

THE LAND OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN 25 



level ground, have to be resorted to in order to 

 avoid monotony. Another advantage is that the 

 work of beginners and those who have to be care- 

 fully supervised is more easily scanned from a 

 height. 



The windows of the house have a very far-reach- 

 ing view, for upon one side through the trees can 

 be seen flat green stretches of brookland, in which 

 lie little secluded villages like Ripe and Selmeston, 

 and beyond, where the coast-line takes a sharp 

 bend to Hastings. 



This is the country that birds seem most to love, 

 for many are the flights of herons and wild duck 

 that follow apparently the watercourses running 

 westwards towards the river Ouse. With that 

 curiously monotonous song, and the harsh regularity 

 of strong flapping wings, three swans often fly by, 

 keeping as close as they can to the tidal canal, 

 which runs through meadows below my garden till 

 it joins the river out towards the setting sun. 



This marshland is called by us who welcome 

 fairies and names that they would favour the 

 " Land of the Glittering Plain," for on a winter's 

 afternoon, or in the evening after a summer's day, 

 the brooks and dykes sparkle with brilliant, daz- 

 zling light. Hence, probably, comes the name of 

 " The Shine," which is the one known in the 

 neighbourhood for the widest portion of one of the 

 watercourses. 



In front of the house, however, is the nicest view, 

 for on the other side of a wide green valley is a 

 beautiful long low line of downland, running east 

 to west. It is never the same from one year's end 



