BOOK II. SUMMER 



IMPRESSIONIST SKETCH 



THE tide which begins to rise in Spring reaches high- 

 water mark in Midsummer, when it often makes for 

 itself a new shore. The buds are replaced by leafy boughs, 

 activity during the day is intense ; the bud-like early flowers 

 are succeeded by others of more liberal beauty ; young 

 things pass through adolescence to mature strength ; and 

 Love is justified in her children. For Summer is the time of 

 maximum output and income of energy, when the fires of 

 life not only burn brightest, but are built up for another 

 season ; it is the time of intensest effort, rising even to 

 madness, the time of richest beauty and fullest joy. 



Although we are wont to associate Summer with rest and 

 holiday-making, this is an urban, not a rustic, generalisa- 

 tion. Midwinter is the countryman's resting-time ; in 

 Midsummer he is hard at work. So with Nature, for in 

 Summer most work is done, and great stores of energy are 

 accumulated for another year. 



Whether we think of the green leaves in which the powers 

 of light and life co-operate to raise simple substances into 

 complexity, the inorganic into the organic ; or of the bees 

 who so industriously visit the flowers and store up honey in 

 the hive ; or of the birds gathering food for their callow 

 young ; or of the haymakers busy in the heat of the day, we 



get the same impression of vigorous work, at the various 



103 



