THE BLUEBELL WOOD 



to take pleasure in Bluebells, and, even if he live in a 

 town, there are wild flowers for sale in the streets, and 

 a bunch of Spring to be bought for a penny. And 

 there is no man so rich that he can wall up the treasures 

 of heaven, or build his walls so high but a Rose will 

 peep over the edge. Poor and rich are free of their 

 thoughts, and there are thoughts and enough to spare, 

 in a hedgerow or a wood. Uncaged birds sing best, 

 and wild flowers yield the purest scents. You and I 

 are fellow dreamers, and this wood is our garden, and 

 these birds our orchestra, and this grass our carpet ; 

 and even when I am underneath the brown earth I 

 love so well, you will sit here and listen for the sound 

 of carriage wheels, and wonder if you will catch a 

 glimpse of red hair and a satin dress through the long- 

 silent avenue. There are mountains, Stone Dog, that 

 still feel the pressure of the foot of Moses ; and hills 

 under which Roman soldiers lie ; and there are woods 

 growing where orchard gardens were ; and gardens 

 planted where the wild boar once ravaged." 



After I had said this came wild shouts, and the 

 laughter of children, and a great clatter as the four 

 children of the woodcutter came running from the 

 village school. 



As I left that place, and turned, before a bend of 

 the road shut out the sight of the wood, I saw the sea 

 of Bluebells, and the sky above, the Primroses and the 

 Wind Flowers and last year's leaves all melt into one. 

 The figure they made was the figure of Lady Perpetua 

 standing there smiling. Then I heard the wheels of a 

 carriage on the road, and I could have sworn I saw the 

 Stone Dog turn his head. 



41 



