nd
fanciful erections, would be nothing, would not be worth mentioning,
compared with the activity going on in the hidden world all around
them on the morrow. Even the flowers had been chary of wearing their
best dresses in such a dusty, untidy world.

But wait till to-morrow, and then see them! Far, far outvying any
assembly of Ascot frocks or Lords' cricket week or Henley Sunday. The
boisterous rain was a little severe on the dainty blossoms, but one
may be sure they bore it with the pluckiest patience, whispering to
each other gleefully about the lovely frocks they were going to wear
the next day. And there would be such eager, joyful cogitations in the
bosoms of all the little males anxious to be off on their spring
courting affairs. How could any self-respecting young cock bird or
male insect go and pay his addresses in a dusty, dirty, faded coat? Of
course, it wasn't to be thought of. The other chap, who waited, would
get all the running. But to-morrow there would be no further need to
wait at all. Plumage and coats would be spring-cleaned, and
expectations for the coming summer of the highest. Well-filled
storehouses, leaf-cosy nests, glorious hunting-grounds. Never mind
these boisterous winds and the violent way they hurl the rain about;
sit tight and make lovely plans for to-morrow.

Ailsa, snug in her little bed, thought happily about the earth and its
glad renewing, and woke up her precious Billy to say, "Are you awake,
Billy? Can you hear it?... We shan't know our little world to-morrow."

And Billy, who was sometimes of a very prosaic turn of mind, answered,
with a grunt, "Just in time to save that top patch of mealies and the
bed of onions, by Jove!..." and then rolled over and went to sleep
again.

"Bother your onions and mealies," said his adoring wife. "The world
wasn't made for you to grow vegetables in!..."

But the next morning they climbed a kopje together, just for the joy
of it, and laughed softly, and exclaimed in hushed voices at all the
wonder outspread.

Such a glorious new heaven and new earth! In the heaven a rain-washed
sky, resplendent with armaments of fairy cloud-vessels sailing across
deepest, loveliest blue. On the earth every leaf and every blade
flashing light, as if it had a little sun of its own; every flower in
its loveliest court dress; the very stones gay with beautiful shades
of lichen; the granite kopjes in the distance, with their faces so
thoroughly scrubbed, gleamin