WHE ATFIELDS 



heads high in the hedge, the young nuts are 

 browning, the wild mints flowering on the shores 

 of the ditch, and the reapers are cutting ceaselessly 

 at the ripe corn. The larks have brought their 

 loves to a happy conclusion. Besides them, the 

 wheat in its day has sheltered many other creatures 

 both animals and birds. 



Hares raced about it in the spring, and even in 

 the May sunshine might be seen rambling over the 

 slopes. As it grew higher it hid the leverets and 

 the partridge chicks. Toll has been taken by 

 rook, and sparrow, and pigeon. Enemies, too, 

 have assailed it ; the daring couch invaded it, the 

 bindweed climbed up the stalk, the storm rushed 

 along and beat it down. Yet it triumphed, and 

 to-day the full sheaves lean against each other. 



119 



