66 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



leafiness by the overarching foliage of Oak and 

 Elm. Trees indeed are now everywhere, scattered 

 thickly upon the undulating enclosures upon 

 either side of us, whilst the hedgebanks which 

 border the way are adorned by the fruit of the 

 now ripening Blackberry, and by the glistening 

 red berries of the Bryony. At the foot of the 

 hill, lying away from the road to our right, is a 

 farmhouse, the very boards of whose outbuildings 

 are splashed with broad bands of gold from en- 

 crusting Lichen. Passing underneath a railway 

 arch the railway now crosses what was once 

 continuous forest our road winding still, we 

 presently get a peep on our left, down over some 

 wooded uplands, of the stream of the Lymington 

 River or Boldre Water winding away down its 

 valley to the sea. It is not far from this point 

 to the quiet streets of Lymington, passing through 

 which we reach the short stretch of country 

 between it and the sea by pursuing southwards 

 the continuous road we have hitherto been 

 following between leafy hedges, skirting tree- 

 bordered meadows a little stream accompanying 

 us on each side of our way. Taking the left-hand 



