"The weather was cheerful, the breath of spring animating. She watched the swelling of the buds-the peeping heads of the crocuses-the opening of the anemones and wild wind-flowers, and at last, the sweet odour of the new-born violets, with all the interest created by novelty; not that she had not observed and watched these things before, with transitory pleasure, but now the operations of nature filled all her world; the earth was no longer merely the dwelling place of her acquaintance, the stage on which the business of society was carried on, but the mother of life-the temple of God-the beautiful and varied store-house of bounteous nature."