226 BIRDS' NESTS. 



at eleven o'clock ; but at what hour it cleared 

 up I cannot say." 



" What was the state of the ground when 

 you took your walk at half-past seven ? " 



" The grass was very wet ; so wet, indeed, 

 that I was deterred from walking through the 

 meadow, according to my usual custom, and 

 went by the path through the wood instead/' 



" Did you remark when you found the piece 

 of paper, whether it was wet or dry ? " 



" I did remark, and am quite certain that 

 it was barely damp ; it could not possibly 

 have been exposed to the rain of the previous 

 night." 



" That is just what I wanted to arrive at ; 

 but at this season of the year the sun rises 

 very early, and may have dried the paper, 

 since, as you say, it was hanging to a bush, 

 and did not touch the ground." 



" I do not think that that was possible, as 

 the morning was cloudy ; and even if the sun 

 had been shining elsewhere, it could not have 



