It was a relief when the noisy, bird-scaring business was done with, andthe last market baskets of ripe cherries were carried away to thestation. Very splendid they looked in such large masses of crimson, asthe baskets were brought out and set down in the grassy road; but Icould not help thinking a little morosely that the thrushes and yellowbirdswhich had been surreptitiously shot, when fallen and fluttering in thewet grass in the early morning, had shed life-drops of that samebeautiful colour.