THE FERN WORLD 
156 
west, the eye will wander over a delightful stretch of meadow 
and tree-crowned hills, both the dark green of the trees and 
the lighter and brighter green of the fresh meadows being 
relieved by the brilliant patches of red soil. Away to the 
right, in an opposite direction, stretches the blue line of the 
sea, until it is interrupted by the altitude of the coast at 
Berry Head. 
How beautiful an element in a landscape is sun-light — the 
pure effulgence of the orb of day, undiminished in its lustre 
by smoke or cloud ! As we stand on this eminence above 
Torbay the sun is shining gloriously, and what a rich store 
of beauty and delight it adds to everything around ! But a 
change comes slowly over the scene. As we have been gazing 
seawards the blue sky, erewhile spotless, is now becoming 
patched with great masses of foam-white cloud, which float- 
ing under the eye of the sun, deepen here and there into 
darker shades of green the spreading landscape, and fling 
their shadows on the sea, whilst the tree shadows falling on 
the green sward bring out into bright relief (where sunbeams 
fall on them) the golden green of the meadows, in whose 
peaceful glades cattle are quietly browsing. Nature, too, 
is always changing, for as we look the soft breeze which 
has arisen increases, and light shadows are gently flung by 
swiftly drifting clouds on sea, hillside, and valley, one moment 
dimming the lustre of their blue, and green, and gold ; but 
the next unveiling these charming colours to the eye, giving 
a new aspect of their fresh delights, and inspiring in the 
heart a new sense of the abounding goodness of an all-wise 
Creator. 
But to return to our green and winding lane. From the 
point where we left it, its course — still ascending — broadens 
out under a canopy of blue sky, letting in the sunshine. 
Then, still winding, it falls again, whilst the topmost 
branches of the hedges on each side of the way bend over 
