242 THE LIFE OF RICHARD JEFFERIES 



among the daisies ; her feet reached nearly to some golden 

 lotus flowers. 



' The left, or under foot, was much hidden by the grass ; 

 the grass touched warm, having been hours in the sun- 

 shine. The upper foot was visible, and two straight 

 strokes — two parallel dimples crossed the large toe (the 

 thumb of the foot) at the second joint. 



' She held her ankle lightly with her right hand, so that 

 her right arm descended beside her body. Bare from the 

 shoulder in its luxurious fulness, it reposed against her. 

 The slight pressure of its own weight enlarged it midway 

 between the shoulder and the elbow. But the left arm 

 being straightened appeared, on the contrary, largest at 

 the shoulder. 



* That shoulder — the left — raised a little higher than 

 the other, on account of her position, was partly bare, 

 the tunic having slipped somewhat. Unconsciously she 

 pressed her cheek against it, feeling and caressing it. Her 

 shoulder lifted itself a little to meet the embrace of her 

 cheek, and the tunic slipped still more, giving it and that 

 side of her bust freedom to the air. She liked to feel her- 

 self ; the soft skin of the shoulder met the softer cheek ; 

 her lips touched the place where arm and shoulder are 

 about to mingle. 



' Shaw thought Felise had finished bathing, and 

 kneeling behind her, undid her hair, which fell and reached 

 the grass. It was somewhat wavy, very thick and long, 

 and delicate in texture. As it descended it concealed the 

 beautiful shoulders like a mantle. She took her strings of 

 pearls from Shaw, and held them in her right hand ; she 

 valued them greatly, and scarcely cared to let even Shaw 

 carry them. 



' A red butterfly came by and hovered about her knee, 

 inclined to alight, but perceiving that it glistened with 

 the water, flew onwards over the pool. 



' Felise moved her feet among the grass, she liked to 

 feel it ; she extended her foot to the golden lotus flowers. 

 But the moment of luxurious enjoyment of the sunlight 



