A heron was standing there motionless, but when he saw them he flapped his wings and slowly rose, and soared above the green heights of the wood up into the very sky itself, for at that depth the trees appeared to touch the round white clouds which brooded over the earth.

The speed-well grew in the shallowest water of the pool, and all around its margin, but the flowers were hardly seen at first, so deep was the green shadow cast by the trees.

In the very middle of the pond the sky was mirrored clear and dark, a blue which looked as if a black void lay behind.
"Oh, there are water-lilies," said Ruth, her eye catching on the farther side.

"I must go and get some." "No; I will get them for you.

The ground is spongy all round there.
Sit still, Ruth; this heap of grass will make a capital seat." He went round, and she waited quietly for his return.