- 



the door, and put myself into the hands of 

 my old friend, Nature, for refreshment and 

 society. I find that I have come a little 

 prematurely, although my welcome has 

 been even warmer than it would have 

 been later. 



"This is what I like," my old friend 

 seemed to say. "You have not waited 

 until I have set my house in order and 

 embellished my grounds. You have come 

 because you love me even more than my 

 surroundings. I have a good many friends 

 who know me only from May to October : 

 the rest of the year they give me cold 

 glances of surprised recognition, or they 

 pass me by without so much as a look. 

 Their ardent devotion in summer fills me 

 with a deep disdain ; their admiration for 

 great masses of colour, for high, striking 

 effects, and for the general lavishness and 

 prodigality of my passing mood, betrays 

 their lack of discernment, their defect of 

 taste, and their slight acquaintance with 

 myself. I should much prefer that they 

 would leave my woods and fields untrod- 

 13 



'' F ~ f ; 



''I' ;^ 







