FOOTPATHS 



spoke to him he answered me in clear, well-chosen 

 language, well pronounced, " in good set terms." 



No slurring of consonants and broadening of 

 vowels, no involved and backward construction de- 

 pending on the listener's previous knowledge for 

 comprehension, no half sentences indicating rather 

 than explaining, but correct sentences. With his 

 shoes almost covered by the muddy water, his 

 hands black and grimy, his brown face splashed 

 with mud, leaning on his shovel, he stood and talked 

 from the deep ditch, not much more than head and 

 shoulders visible above it. It seemed a voice from 

 the very earth, speaking of education, change, and 

 possibilities. 



The copse is now filling up with undergrowth ; 

 the brambles are spreading, the briars extending, 

 masses of nettles, and thistles like saplings in size 

 and height, crowding the spaces between the ash 

 stoles. By the banks great cow-parsnips, or " gix," 

 have opened their broad heads of white flowers ; 

 teazles have lifted themselves into view, every 

 opening is occupied. There is a scent of elder 

 flowers, the meadow-sweet is pushing up and will 

 soon be out, and an odour of new-mown hay floats 

 on the breeze. 



From the oak green caterpillars slide down 

 threads of their own making to the bushes below, 

 but they are running terrible risk. For a pair of 



