IN THE NEW FORREST. 1138 
invites us to rest awhile. What a contrast does 
the scene which now surrounds us present to the 
crowded city through which we were erewhile 
walking! Leaning against the friendly trunk of 
our Beech, softly velveted with densely clustering 
moss, we look up to the leafy heaven formed by 
the spreading foliage of the Beech-tops. In front 
of us another stately Beech is strangely enfolded 
in the twining arms of a younger Tree, which has 
crept up its trunk to the point where its larger 
companion separates into two noble limbs. There 
the small branches of the clinging Tree are singu- 
larly contorted, as they find their way like twisted 
rope far up aloft, where they are hidden by the 
. thickening foliage of the supporting Beech. 
But we must get away from our cool resting- 
place. The sun is just setting, gilding with the 
haio of its dying glory the leaves in our coppice ; 
the woodland is ringing with the mellow notes 
of the thrush; and it is hard to tear oneself 
fron. so lovely a spot. There are, however, other 
scenes to visit, more woodland glories to explore 
and admire; so we must away to Lyndhurst. 
The sun has now sunk below the horizon. The 
