86 MEMORIES 



some big nest, deep down here in the heart of this 

 unfrequented valley; and all around stretch the 

 broad water-meadows, where the black, long-horned 

 ^^ , cattle fare so well. On the first slopes of the rising 



ground beyond is many a furrowed garden, frothed 

 by the yellow spray of hops that top the poles ; 

 and then wave on wave of purple heather rolls on 

 and on, to break at last and lose itself among the 

 sheep-fed hollows of the thyme-scented Surrey hills. 



The backwater itself is jeweiled about with flowers 

 of every hue — tall spikes of purple and yellow loose- 

 strife, whole beds of blue forget-me-not, and that other 

 _=. violet-blue of meadow cranes-bill, with purple comfrey 

 and giant water -dock. '^^_^ 



On the other side flows the stream itself in pool 

 and shallow, by steep banks where the gnarled roots 

 of the pollard oak-trees make a hiding for the 

 otters. Wide they stretch their arms across the 

 island and wide across the stream, and underneath 

 them lie the big chub, taking with sounding lips 

 cAvd- the drowning moths. Chub-fishing is not reckoned 



for much as sport ; and yet, to throw a fly without 

 fouling among those boughs, and so deftly that it 

 shall drop lightly as an insect from the leaves, is 

 no mean test of skill. And many a practised hand 



