had forgiven him. She wore the same black dress that he had admired her in
the night before; her waist was confined by the same black band; but the
chestnut hair seemed more beautiful beneath the black silk sunshade, leaned
so gracefully, the black handle held between thumb and forefinger. And the
little black figure seemed a part of the beautiful English park, now so
green and fragrant in all the flower and sunlight of June, and decorated
with a blue summer sky, and white clouds moving lazily over the tops of the
trees. And the impression of the beautiful park was enforced by its
reflection, which lay, with the mute magic of reflected things, in the
still water, stirred only when, with exquisite motion of webbed feet, the
swans propelled their freshness to and fro, balancing themselves in the
current where they knew the bread must surely fall.

'They are waiting for me. Cannot you see their black eyes turned towards
the bridge?' And she threw the bread from the basket, and the beautiful
birds unbent their curved necks, devouring it voraciously under the water.

In the larger portion of this artificial lake there were two islands,
thickly wooded. In the smaller, which lay behind Emily and Hubert, there
was one small island covered with reeds and low bushes, and this was a
favourite haunt for the waterfowl, which now came swimming forward, not
daring to approach too near the dangerous swans.

'These are my friends,' said Emily. 'They will follow me to the other end,
and I shall be able to feed them as we walk along the meadow.'

Don and Dandy bounded through the tall grass; sometimes foolishly giving
chase to the birds that rose up out of the golden grasses, barking in mad
eagerness--sometimes pursuing a hare into the distant woods. The last chase
had led them far, and both dogs returned panting to walk till they