EINGWOOD TO EOEDINGBEIDGE. 101 



We take a turning in our road to the left by a 

 post which points to Fordingbridge, wend on by 

 bramble-woven hedgebanks, pass a farm-house on 

 the left-hand side of the way whose walls and 

 outbuildings are splashed with the green and gold 

 of encrusting Lichen, and then stop for a moment 

 to lean over a little stone-capped, brick-built 

 bridge to enjoy the refreshing gurgle and splash 

 of a clear brook which runs underneath over its 

 clear, stony bed. Presently, as a prospect of wood 

 and meadow opens up before us, away in front 

 and on our left, we pass again on our road. The 

 hedgebanks are now made brilliant by the 

 colouring of the Bramble, brightened by late 

 blossoms of the Bindweed, and graceful by the 

 presence of clustering Brake. 



We have quietly wandered perhaps a mile from 

 Ringwood when the prostrate branch of a tree 

 athwart the hedgebank on our right invites us to 

 mount to it and be seated. A moment only we 

 rest, but that moment is quite long enough to 

 get a pretty peep of rural scenery. 



Away to the south-west the tower of Ringwood 

 Church appears to rise from a cluster of trees. 



G 2 



