THE RIVER 



easily onward, yet every part of the apparently even 

 surface varies ; and so, too, in a larger way, the 

 aspects of the succeeding reaches change. Upon 

 one broad bend the tints are green, for the river 

 moves softly in a hollow, with its back as it were 

 to the wind. 



The green lawn sloping to the shore, and the 

 dark cedar's storeys of flattened foliage, tier above 

 tier j the green osiers of two eyots ; the light- 

 leaved aspen ; the tall elms, fresh and green ; and 

 the green hawthorn bushes give their colour to the 

 water, smooth as if polished, in which they are re- 

 flected. A white swan floats in the still narrow 

 channel between the eyots, and there is a punt 

 painted green moored in a little inlet by the lawn, 

 and scarce visible under drooping boughs. Roofs 

 of red tile and dormer windows rise behind the 

 trees, the dull yellow of the walls is almost hidden, 

 and deep shadows lurk about the shore. 



Opposite, across the stream, a wide greensward 

 stretches beside the towing-path, lit up with sun- 

 shine which touches the dandelions till they glow 

 in the grass. From time to time a nightingale 

 sings in a hawthorn unregarded, and in the elms of 

 the park hard by a crowd of jackdaws chatter. 

 But a little way round a curve the whole stream 

 opens to the sunlight and becomes blue, reflecting 

 the sky. Again, sweeping round another curve 

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