The Lark’s Nest.

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,
LONDON AND BUNGAY.

TO
A. A. E. F.
IN MEMORY OF PLEASANT DAYS
IN THE SUNNY SUMMER
OF 1901

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. The Lark’s Nest 1

II. The Sorrows of a House Martin 24

III. The Sandpipers 51

IV. The Last of the Barons 79

V. Downs and Dungeons 104

VI. Doctor and Mrs. Jackson 130

VII. A Lucky Magpie 147

VIII. Selina’s Starling 185

IX. Too Much of a Good Thing 204

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Lark’s Nest Frontispiece.

The Sorrows of a House Martin To face page 24

The Sandpipers ” 52

The Last of the Barons ” 80

Downs and Dungeons ” 104

Doctor and Mrs. Jackson ” 131

A Lucky Magpie ” 148

Selina’s Starling ” 186

MORE TALES OF THE BIRDS

THE LARK’S NEST
A STORY OF A BATTLE

I

It was close upon Midsummer Day, but it was not midsummer weather. A mist rose from moist fields, and hung over the whole countryside as if it were November; the June of 1815 was wet and chill, as June so often is. And as the mist hung over the land, so a certain sense of doubt and anxiety hung over the hearts of man and beast and bird. War was in the air as well as mist; and everything wanted warmth and peace to help it to carry out its appointed work; to cheer it with a feeling of the fragrance of life.

The moisture and the chilliness did not prevent the Skylark from taking a flight now and then into the air, and singing to his wife as she sat on the nest below; indeed, he rose sometimes so high that she could hardly hear his voice, and then the anxious feeling got the better of her. When he came down she would tell him of it, and remind him how dear to her that music was. “Come with me this once,” he said at last in reply. “Come, and leave the eggs for a little while. Above the mist the sun is shining, and the real world is up there to-day. You can dry yourself up there in the warmth, and you can fancy how bad it is for all the creatures that have no wings to fly with. And there are such numbers of them about to-day—such long lines of men and horses! Come and feel the sun and see the sights.”

He rose again into the air and began to sing; and she, getting wearily off the nest, followed him upwards. They passed through the mist and out into the glorious sunshine; and as they hung on the air with fluttering wings and tails bent downwards, singing and still gently rising, the sun at last conquered the fog to the right of them, and they saw the great high road covered with a long column of horsemen, whose arms and trappings flashed with the sudden light. They were moving southward at a trot as quick as cavalry can keep up when riding in a body together; and behind them at a short interval came cannon and waggons rumbling slowly along, the drivers’ whips cracking constantly as if there were great need of hurry. Then came a column of infantry marching at a quickstep without music, all intent on business, none falling out of the ranks; they wore coats of bright scarlet, which set off young and sturdy frames. And then, just as an officer,