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and by the time you have eaten your breakfast we shall steam in through a
crack in that coral…reef； and you will see what you missed seeing when
you went to Ireland； because you went on board at night。
* * *
Oh！ Where have we got to now？ Where is the wide Severn Sea？
Two or three miles beyond us； and here we are in narrow little Avon。
Narrow indeed。 I wonder that the steamer does not run against those
rocks。 But how beautiful they are； and how the trees hang down over the
water； and are all reflected in it！
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Yes。 The gorge of the Avon is always lovely。 I saw it first when I
was a little boy like you； and I have seen it many a time since； in sunshine
and in storm； and thought it more lovely every time。 Look！ there is
something curious。
What？ Those great rusty rings fixed into the rock？
Yes。 Those may be as old； for aught I know； as Queen Elizabeth's or
James's reign。
But why were they put there？
For ships to hold on by； if they lost the tide。
What do you mean？
It is high tide now。 That is why the water is almost up to the
branches of the trees。 But when the tide turns； it will all rush out in a
torrent which would sweep ships out to sea again； if they had not steam； as
we have； to help them up against the stream。 So sailing ships； in old
times； fastened themselves to those rings； and rode against the stream till
the tide turned； and carried them up to Bristol。
But what is the tide？ And why does it go up and down？ And why
does it alter with the moon； as I heard you all saying so often in Ireland？
That is a long story； which I must tell you something about some other
time。 Now I want you to look at something else： and that is； the rocks
themselves； in which the rings are。 They are very curious in my eyes；
and very valuable； for they taught me a lesson in geology when I was quite
a boy： and I want them to teach it to you now。
What is there curious in them？
This。 You will soon see for yourself； even from the steamer's deck；
that they are not the same rock as the high limestone hills above。 They
are made up of red sand and pebbles； and they are a whole world younger；
indeed some say two worlds younger； than the limestone hills above； and
lie upon the top of the limestone。 Now you may see what I meant when I
said that the newer rocks； though they lie on the top of the older； were
often lower down than they are。
But how do you know that they lie on the limestone？
Look into that corner of the river； as we turn round； and you will see
with your own eyes。 There are the sandstones； lying flat on the turned…up
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
edges of another rock。
Yes； I see。 The layers of it are almost upright。
Then that upright rock underneath is part of the great limestone hill
above。 So the hill must have been raised out of the sea； ages ago； and
eaten back by the waves； and then the sand and pebbles made a beach at
its foot； and hardened into stone； and there it is。 And when you get
through the limestone hills to Bristol； you will see more of these same red
sandstone rocks； spread about at the foot of the limestone…hills； on the
other side。
But why is the sandstone two worlds newer than the limestone？
Because between that sandstone and that limestone come hundreds of
feet of rock； which carry in them all the coal in England。 Don't you
remember that I told you that once before？
Oh yes。 But I see no coal between them there。
No。 But there is plenty of coal between them over in Wales； and
plenty too between them on the other side of Bristol。 What you are
looking at there is just the lip of a great coal…box； where the bottom and
the lid join。 The bottom is the mountain limestone； and the lid is the new
red sandstone； or Trias； as they call it now： but the coal you cannot see。
It is stowed inside the box； miles away from here。 But now； look at the
cliffs and the downs； which （they tell me） are just like the downs in the
Holy Land； and the woods and villas； high over your head。
And what is that in the air？ A bridge？
Yesthat is the famous Suspension Bridgeand a beautiful work of art
it is。 Ay； stare at it； and wonder at it； little man； of course。
But is it not wonderful？
Yes： it was a clever trick to get those chains across the gulf； high up
in the air： but not so clever a trick as to make a single stone of which
those piers are built； or a single flower or leaf in those woods。 The more
you see of Madam How's masonry and carpentry； the clumsier man's work
will look to you。 But now we must get ready to give up our tickets； and
go ashore； and settle ourselves in the train； and then we shall have plenty
to see as we run home； more curious； to my mind； than any suspension
bridge。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
And you promised to show me all the different rocks and soils as we
went home； because it was so dark when we came from Reading。
Very good。
* * *
Now we are settled in the train。 And what do you want to know first？
More about the new rocks being lower than the old ones； though they
lie on the top of them。
Well； look here； at this sketch。
A boy piling up slates？ What has that to do with it？
I saw you in Ireland piling slates against a rock just in this way。 And
I thought to myself〃That is something like Madam How's work。〃
How？
Why； see。 The old rock stands for the mountains of the Old World；
like the Welsh mountains； or the Mendip Hills。 The slates stand for the
new rocks； which have been piled up against these； one over the other。
But； you see； each slate is lower than the one before it； and slopes more；
till the last slate which you are putting on is the lowest of all； though it
overlies all。
I see now。 I see now。
Then look at the sketch of the rocks between this and home。 It is
only a rough sket