YELLOW WATER-LILY. 83 



of vegetation and in others so shallow that we are in 

 momentary expectation of grounding. Presently we emerge 

 from this verdant tunnel, and find that both the stream and 

 the view have opened out. On our right is a broad belt of 

 luscious-looking meadow dotted over with cattle lazily 

 quiescent in the July sunshine, while others have come to 

 the shallow edge of the stream and stand knee-deep in its 

 cooling flow. In the distance, beyond the far-reaching 

 meadow is a long belt of plantation, and above this and 

 far beyond it is a line of blue hills. On our left the banks 

 are higher, and as soon as they have risen above the line 

 of bulrushes and reeds are clothed with fern and crowned 

 with a wood of fir, the dark red trunks and heavy masses 

 of foliage seeming almost black against the summer sky. 

 At intervals we catch sight of an old priory, little more 

 now than a mere mass of flint wall ; but its high grey gable 

 attracts the eye, and as we force our way up a narrow side- 

 stream that fed the still- existing fishponds of the old 

 monks we find ourselves all at once in a sort of lake-like 

 expansion, and the water bears on its tranquil bosom count- 

 less lily-flowers, both yellow and white. It was from 

 thence the flowers of our illustration were taken. Many 

 have been our rambles in that solemn fir-wood, many an 

 hour have we spent amongst the ruins of that old abbey, 

 and doubtless in our case old associations have gone far to 

 beautify the scene, but we are persuaded that few who 

 could accompany us thither would think our appreciation 

 excessive. 



The leaves of the yellow lily are somewhat heart-shaped, 

 and lie flat on the surface of the water. Many of them 

 are considerably larger than the one we have shown in our 

 sketch. The flowers do not rest on the water, as in the case 



