THE CROWS 



visible it presented a scene of dazzling beauty. 

 At that distance only the tops of the ripples were 

 seen, reflecting the light at a very low angle. 

 The result was' that the eye saw nothing of the 

 water or the wavelet, but caught only the brilliant 

 glow. Instead of a succession of sparkles there 

 seemed to be a golden liquid floating on the surface 

 as oil floats a golden liquid two or three inches 

 thick, which flowed before the wind. 



Besides this surface of molten gold there was a 

 sheen and flicker above it, as if a spray or. vapour, 

 carried along, or the crests of the wavelets blown 

 over, was also of gold. But the metal conveys no 

 idea of the glowing, lustrous light which filled the 

 hollow by the dusty road. It was visible from 

 one spot only, a few steps altering the angle 

 lessened the glory, and as the pond itself came into 

 view there was nothing but a ripple on water 

 somewhat thick with suspended sand. Thus things 

 change their appearance as they are looked at in 

 different ways. 



A patch of water crowsfoot grows on the farthest 

 side of the pond, and in early summer sends up 

 lovely white flowers. 



133 



