94 NATURE NEAR LONDON. 



droop languidly on the low hedge : the distant hills 

 are dim with the vapour of heat; the very clouds 

 which stay motionless in the sky reflect a yet more 

 brilliant light from their white edges. Is there no 

 shadow ? 



There is no tree in the field, and the low hedge can 

 shelter nothing; but bordering the next, on rather 

 higher ground, is an ash copse, with some few spruce 

 firs. Resting on a rail in the shadow of these firs, a 

 light air now and again draws along beside the nut- 

 tree bushes of the hedge, the cooler atmosphere of the 

 shadow, perhaps causes it. Faint as it is, it sways the 

 heavy laden brome grass, but is not strong enough to 

 lift a ball of thistledown from the bennets among 

 which it is entangled. 



How swiftly the much-desired summer comes upon 

 us ! Even with the reapers at work before one it is 

 difficult to realize that it has not only come, but will 

 soon be passing away. Sweet summer is but just long 

 enough for the happy loves of the larks. It seems but 

 yesterday, it is really more than five months since, 

 that, leaning against the gate there, I watched a lark 

 and his affianced on the ground among the grey stubble 

 of last year still standing. 



His crest was high and his form upright, he ran a 

 little way and then sang, went on again and sang 

 again to his love, moving parallel with him. Then 

 passing from the old dead stubble to fresh-turned 

 furrows, still they went side by side, now down in the 

 valley between the clods, now mounting the ridges, but 

 always together, always with song and joy, till I lost 

 them across the brown earth. But even then from 



