Now they went along a green path among bushes, where the bright sun beamed down upon them.
"O look! what quantities of blackberries!" cried Alfred.
All were scattered among the brambles in a moment, engaging in the delights of blackberry gathering. The fruit hung ripe and black in large bunches; fingers and lips were soon dyed with the juice, and not a few stains and holes were made in frocks. Then Annie's basket was filled, that they might take some home for Jane.
Mr. Grove now called them all together; for it was time to go on. All were soon collected, except Jessie and Emily. They were called, but no answer came, and no one could see them anywhere.
"I will climb a tree and look out," said Fred. "I shall be sure to see them." Accordingly he climbed the highest he could find, and looked all round.
"I see them," he cried. "There they go, running exactly the wrong way. Holloa! Jessie! Emily! Stop!" And he took out his handkerchief and waved it.
All the children stood looking up anxiously. "Do they see you?" asked Mr. Grove.
"They have stopped and are looking about. They see me now. Here they come," said Fred, beginning to slide down; and as he reached the ground they came running up quite out of breath, and rather frightened at the idea that they might have lost themselves.
They continued to walk for nearly half an hour near the stream, among scattered trees, stopping every now and then to gather long wreaths of briony, or honeysuckle, or ivy, or to watch the rabbits that started out of the bushes, or to listen to a wood-pigeon, or stock-dove at a distance, the only sounds that reached them in this silent place. At last they came to a grove of fine large trees, stretching as far as they could see in all directions. It looked almost dark in there, so great was the contrast with the sunny place in which they stood. The little stream took its course under the trees, which hung arching over it; and by the path at its side they went in under the tall trees. As they entered they ceased to laugh and talk, and felt inclined to whisper. It was a beautiful place. The ground was brown with the leaves of last autumn; the branches met overhead at a great height, and everywhere a green light was spread.
Presently they found a nook where the stream had been checked in its course by a fallen tree, and had collected into a round pool. On the bridge made by this tree all the children had soon seated themselves, watching the water foaming over one part where it had made a channel of itself, and glancing in the straggling sunbeams that came flickering through the leaves.