第23部分(第6/7 頁)

　every　munity　of　men　called　sane？　But　I　put　aside　this　reflection　as　soon　as　may　be；　it　perturbs　me　fruitlessly。　Then　I　listen　to　the　sounds　about　my　cottage；　always　soft；　soothing；　such　as　lead　the　mind　to　gentle　thoughts。　Sometimes　I　can　hear　nothing；　not　the　rustle　of　a　leaf；　not　the　buzz　of　a　fly；　and　then　I　think　that　utter　silence　is　best　of　all。

This　morning　I　was　awakened　by　a　continuous　sound　which　presently　shaped　itself　to　my　ear　as　a　multitudinous　shrilling　of　bird　voices。　I　knew　what　it　meant。　For　the　last　few　days　I　have　seen　the　swallows　gathering；　now　they　were　ranged　upon　my　roof；　perhaps　in　the　last　council　before　their　setting　forth　upon　the　great　journey。　I　know　better　than　to　talk　about　animal　instinct；　and　to　wonder　in　a　pitying　way　at　its　resemblance　to　reason。　I　know　that　these　birds　show　to　us　a　life　far　more　reasonable；　and　infinitely　more　beautiful；　than　that　of　the　masses　of　mankind。　They　talk　with　each　other；　and　in　their　talk　is　neither　malice　nor　folly。　Could　one　but　interpret　the　converse　in　which　they　make　their　plans　for　the　long　and　perilous　flight……and　then　pare　it　with　that　of　numberless　respectable　persons　who　even　now　are　projecting　their　winter　in　the　South！

XXV

Yesterday　I　passed　by　an　elm　avenue；　leading　to　a　beautiful　old　house。　The　road　between　the　trees　was　covered　in　all　its　length　and　breadth　with　fallen　leaves……a　carpet　of　pale　gold。　Further　on；　I　came　to　a　plantation；　mostly　of　larches；　it　shone　in　the　richest　aureate　hue；　with　here　and　there　a　splash　of　blood…red；　which　was　a　young　beech　in　its　moment　of　autumnal　glory。

I　looked　at　an　alder；　laden　with　brown　catkins；　its　blunt　foliage　stained　with　innumerable　shades　of　lovely　colour。　Near　it　was　a　horse…chestnut；　with　but　a　few　leaves　hanging