

THE COURTSHIP OK THE SKYLARK. 



CHAPTER II 



SIGNS OF SPRING 



DURING January there is no life in the 

 woodland carpet, no vigour in the twigs that 

 spread a tangled tracery against the sky ; there 

 is no blossom on the drooping hedge-plant. 

 Among the trees all is still, and cold, and dead, 

 and the air is heavy with the reek of decay. The 



