WOODLANDS 



small furze common at the bottom, the marks of 

 traffic fade away, the dust ceases, and is succeeded 

 by sward. The hedgerows on either side are here 

 higher than ever, and are thickly fringed with 

 bramble bushes, which- sometimes encroach on the 

 waggon ruts in the middle, and are covered with 

 flowers, and red and green and ripe blackberries 

 together. 



Green rushes line the way, and green dragon- 

 flies dart above them. Thistledown is pouting 

 forth from the swollen tops of thistles crowded with 

 seed. In a gateway the turf has been worn away 

 by waggon wheels and the hoofs of cart-horses, 

 and the dry heat has pulverised the crumbling ruts. 

 Three hen pheasants and a covey of partridges 

 that have been dusting themselves here move away 

 without much haste at the approach of footsteps 

 the pheasants into the thickets, and the partridges 

 through the gateway. The shallow holes in which 

 they were sitting can be traced on the dust, and 

 there are a few small feathers lying about. 



A barley field is within the gate ; the mowers 

 have just begun to cut it on the opposite side. 

 Next to it is a wheatfield; the wheat has been 

 cut and stands in shocks. From the stubble by 

 the nearest shock two turtledoves rise, alarmed, 

 and swiftly fly towards a wood which bounds the 

 field. This wood, indeed, upon looking again, 

 9 



