'CALX 5 AND RECALCITRATION. 39 



down the once wet and reeking spadefuls into the 

 form of dry loose Mole-heaps. As the tines of the 

 harrow jumped and danced freely through the 

 mingling mass, what a changed appearance was left 

 behind ! a dry rich earthy scent, sweeter than the 

 breath of an Orange-grove, or the evening incense of 

 the hay-field, rose gratefully up to meet the fresh 

 morning beams that shot their influence for the first 

 time on the new face of an old field ; the busy gossamer 

 drew its glittering net-work from point to point in a 

 thousand geometrical forms over the levelled surface. 



' Well ! I never thought to see it look like this ! I 

 should think anything woidd grow here !' 



Such was the remark I overheard. I suppose it 

 came from one of the horses: they were the only 

 living things present that were not pledged to an 

 opposite opinion. The observation, however, if ill- 

 fitting was not ill-timed : it chimed in with the 

 thoughts that were tumbling over each other in 

 theoretical confusion through the brain of the in- 

 curable Chronicler. What would have been thought 

 of him had he dared to utter them aloud, as they 

 came and went in this strange fashion 



' The PROTOXIDE into the PEROXIDE ! ha ! a beauti- 

 ' ful change that. Clay, Sand, Peat, and Marl too ! 

 ' a goodly compound. How is it that a sort of instinct 



