SPRING IN THE ALPS 13 



lines of sweetness running side by side with lines 

 of acute capacity ; a strong face beautiful ; a face 

 in which optimism reigns sovereign over an active 

 pessimism. Nature in the Alps is instinct with 

 the stern necessity for perpetual endeavour, whereas 

 in England, where conditions are not so harsh, we 

 have a sense of a certain indolence and ease of 

 circumstance of Nature which we call homeliness 

 and repose. Repose, in this sense, there certainly 

 is not in the Alpine spring. Every suspicion of 

 lassitude or laissez-faij'e is unknown ; all is keen 

 and buoyant, quick with an earnest joie de vivre 

 which is as exquisite in its way as anything more 

 voluptuously sentimental that England can pro- 

 duce We feel small want to loll about and 

 dream ; the one impulse is to be up and exploring 

 the wonders to be found on every side, and to do 

 the while our dreaming. Not that these wonders 

 are new to us, and therefore incentive to energy ; 

 we may know them all well of old, but the infection 

 is the same. Spring in the Alps is redolent of 

 energy. The cattle, goats, and sheep, are not yet 

 here for us to watch the romping of. We it is, 

 young and old, who do the skipping ! 



And this energy is felt the moment the hem of 

 Alpine altitudes is touched ; we are instantly 



