OF CERTAIN TUBES 67 



there is not a habitation in sight. The valley 

 is peopled with its trees elms, Lombardy poplars, 

 willows, aspens, limes, and ashes. And in between 

 them the river and its full ditches glint perpetu- 

 ally. And if you will raise your eyes a little you 

 may see the chalk country that lies behind these 

 things, fold on fold of the green down-land, with 

 the Seven Clumps at the Great Stones, the Seven 

 Beech Clumps that mark the way for anyone who 

 crosses the Plain from the south. And over all, 

 in this fine north-westerly weather, the great 

 clouds sail, throwing their shadows upon square 

 miles of it. 



That is what I am painting. 



I have now used all my new colours except the 

 Italian Pink. But there was nothing Italian in 

 the landscape except the garden at Beaulieu, and 

 that was not pink. Moreover, Italian Pink is not 

 pink at all. It is a sort of yellowy brown. Per- 

 haps there is some mistake. 1 must ask my 

 instructor. 



And still the result is not satisfactory. 



Not even my wife's praise can make me wholly 

 satisfied with my picture. 



