1 84 JULY 



inhabitants. Fear flies, for it is out of place, that is out of 

 touch with this place. People and dogs and birds and 

 little mammals come close to one another without any 

 other barrier than a pretence of initial stillness in the 

 bigger, and a pretence of momentary timidity in the 

 smaller. All the common difficulties of observation fade 

 away merely by grace of the near approach of shy crea 

 tures to their curious watchers. The place itself has the 

 St. Francis of Assisi touch. One may say of it what 

 Browning said of the musicians : 



God has a few of us whom He whispers in the ear, 



and the sense of friendliness belonging to the scene grows 

 as the denizens become subdued to that they work in. 

 Friendliness is as common to them as chlorophyl to the 

 leaves. 



The green and sandy patch, that serves the small 

 cottage for lawn, is about the size of a millwheel ; and 

 it is surrounded on three sides by gorse and bracken and 

 wild raspberry canes and brambles and nettles, into whose 

 tangle open dim corridors. Many sorts of animal look 

 out from the doors and windows of this green circle, just 

 as other eyes more obviously gaze from the doors and 

 windows of the cottage, made on purpose for the view 

 they give both near and far. So it happens that if you 

 throw out a crumb or stop to watch without such attrac 

 tion, some bright and merry little creature will pop out 

 at once and without delay, for they are never far away. 

 And when they slip out into the arena (which being sandy 

 and circular deserves the name) they are as good for 

 observation as if in a cage, and much better for every 

 other purpose indeed, for observation too, for they 

 behave in a natural way, whether the way be one of 

 villainy, so to say, or of virtue. 



