78 My Wood. 



thin mist seems to hover over the belt. To what this 

 is due is a problem. The day is clear, the sun shining, 

 and the dew of the morning is mostly gone; though 

 here, truth to tell, from the overspreading branches of 

 the loftier trees which let in the sun's rays only in 

 breaks and glimpses, there is always a sense as of 

 something dewy, moist, and sweet, to which the sense 

 of misty atmosphere above this carpet of blue may be 

 owing. But I cannot be quite certain of anything but 

 the effect. 



I am quite aware, of course, of the fact that this effect 

 is attributed to shadows cast by certain leaves ; but 

 this leaves the problem exactly where it was, since it 

 is hard to see why certain shades of green in leaves 

 should cast blue shadows. The most exhaustive state- 

 ment of the law would not in any way lessen the sur- 

 prise and mystery of the effect when seen again after 

 a lapse of years. 



Scarce anything could be at once more fascinating 

 and pleasing to the eye. The fancy reinforces the 

 sentiment that sky and earth are married, here under 

 some indescribable and mysterious ritual. But as we 

 approach and examine more closely, we find that some- 

 thing of the effect is due to subtle variations of shade, 

 which are, however, much more marked than might 

 be believed. The general effect, looking from a dis- 

 tance, is that of sky ; but, as in all nature's finer efforts, 

 this is due to the presence of mingling shades, gra- 

 duating through the finest chords, and all in perfect 

 harmony. The bells, at their first unfolding, are like 

 purple spikes, that seem to delight in shade (and give 

 to or borrow from it — one can scarce say which-.— an 

 indefinite kind of atmosphere), up to the palest blue in 

 the more perfect flowers ; and the lush green of the 



