276 NATURE IN DOWNLAND 



imparted my views on the subject. She was disturbed 

 at what I said about the owl, and began to excuse 

 herself, saying that she had taken in the bird solely to 

 give it a safe and happy home, but she had no desire 

 to keep it as it was a sUent dull bird, and that if I 

 wished I could take it away and set it free. 



I was delighted at my success, and promised to 

 find before long a suitable home for the bird. 



For some days after that I kept a look out during 

 my rambles ; and one afternoon, in the maritime dis- 

 trict, I came to a small village which struck me as an 

 ideal home for an owl. For it was a small and most 

 rustic place, consisting of a little church and a great 

 thatched barn and many farm buildings. But the 

 farm-house itself, even in this land of great old farms 

 that were once manors, was a surprise to me. It was 

 a very large low stone building, partly overgrown with 

 ivy, and nearly surrounded by an ancient foss, with 

 great old elm-trees growing out of the banks. The 

 people who lived in this grey old manse were worthy 

 of their home : the lady of the house, who received 

 me, was young and fair to see, and gracious in mind 

 and manner ; and when I told her my errand, she said 

 that she and her husband were very fond of birds and 

 had a peculiar regard for the white owl; and that if 

 I would take and release it in their barn she herself 

 would place food for it there every day and see that 

 it was not disturbed, until it had recovered its strength 

 and the use of its wings and could find its own living. 



