A SEASIDE IDYLL 215 



we pass we have a glimpse of a sparkling silver 

 sea, and on the far horizon an island shows up, 

 with bluff cliffs dimly outlined in the heat-haze. 

 We turn at the end of the lane down a pebbled 

 footpath taking us to the beach, which lies 

 between two bold headlands forming a little 

 bay. At each end of the beach are rock-ridges, 

 with baylets of hard sand between them, and 

 amongst the rocks mysterious pools of clear 

 water, fringed with seaweeds and coralline of all 

 colours ; the prevailing tones are vivid green 

 and soft greys and purples. Deep orange sea- 

 anemones wave their tentacles from the sides, 

 limpets and sea-snails of all shades of orange 

 and opal cling to the overhanging rocks. There 

 are rumours of iridescent prawns, and even of 

 conger-eels and lobsters, lurking in deep, shady 

 crevices where the eye cannot reach. Between 

 the rock-ledges on the two sides of the bay lies 

 about half a mile of fine hard sand, glistening 

 wet in the sunshine. The beach is shut off 

 from the fields by a ridge of sand-dunes, cleft 

 where our little stream finds its way to the sea. 

 Near where the rocks meet the sand-dunes at 

 one end of the little bay there are great orange, 

 red and yellow patches of the gorgeous lady's- 

 slipper, and between them bits of short turf 

 dotted with sea-pinks. The land side of the 



