THE SIGNAL 33 



" This is the first night since the Brush Bea- 

 cons burned that the Brotherhood of Beasts 

 have all been awake and keen for hunting ; and 

 though there are few birds as yet, there are 

 enough to make the meeting legal." 



" Legal I what do you mean ? " 



" House Child," said Heart of Nature's voice, 

 " do fc you know what day this is ? " 



"It's the twenty-first of March," said Anne, 

 promptly, " and the slip on mother's Wordsworth 

 calendar said, 



" Like an army defeated 

 The snow hath retreated, 1 



and it has." 



" Yes, the twenty-first of March, the Vernal 

 Equinox. According to the Plan, on this day my 

 earth garden locks the back door on winter and 

 opens the front door to welcome spring. Alas, in 

 some parts of my garden she gets but a cold 

 greeting. Still the Wild Clans remember, and 

 at least a Beast, a Bird, a Flower, always answer 

 my call." 



Just then there was a great fluttering among 

 the birds. There were any number of Robins 

 and Bluebirds, Meadow-larks and Grackles, con- 

 stantly arriving, and chattering to those who 

 had stayed about all winter. A fine pair of 



