UNDER THE TREES 



AND ELSEWHERE. 

 CHAPTER I. 



AN APRIL DAY. 



MY study has been a dull place of late ; even 

 the open fire, which still lingers on the hearth, has 

 failed to exorcise a certain gray and weary spirit 

 which has somehow taken possession of the prem 

 ises. As I was thinking this morning about the 

 best way of ejecting this unwelcome inmate, it sud 

 denly occurred to me that for some time past my 

 study has been simply a workshop ; the fire has 

 been lighted early and burned late, the windows 

 have been closed to keep out all disturbing sounds, 

 and the pile of manuscript on the table has steadily 

 grown higher and higher. &quot; After all,&quot; I said to 

 myself, &quot; it is I that ought to be ejected.&quot; Acting 

 on this conclusion, and without waiting for the ser 

 vice of process of formal dislodgment, I have let 

 the fire go out, opened the windows, locked the 

 door, and put myself into the hands of my old 

 friend, Nature, for refreshment and society. I find 



