204 THE heart's-ease. 



to indulge in the pursuit of a few thoughts that 

 form the rainbow of my rather cloudy sky — I shall 

 continue to think upon paper ; unshackled by any 

 apprehension of the censure that is, doubtless, 

 often provoked by my lucubrations — ' How very 

 common-place !' 



T sally forth into the garden, on a very unprom- 

 ising morning. The whole concave is overcast 

 with clouds : they hang low, portending a dark 

 and cheerless day. 1 see not even a probability 

 of rain, which might clear the expanse, and give 

 us the desired prospect of an azure heaven beyond ; 

 but there is every sign of continued gloom — clouds 

 that appear disposed neither to pass on nor to fall, 

 maintaining a position of sullen quiescence, the 

 most discouraging ; while the little flowers beneath, 

 looked as grave and as cheerless as flowers can 

 look, and the general effect on my mind is that of 

 chilled and saddening feeling. Presently, there is 

 a perceptible movement of the dull mass — a thin- 

 ning of the cloud in some particular spot, as though 

 it was drawn upwards, and comparative transpa- 

 rency ensues. I watch, until an opening is effect- 

 ed, and a little, — a very little spec of clear blue 

 sky becomes visible beyond the separating edges. 

 A gladdening sight ! for, then, I confidently anti- 

 cipate, that, in another quarter, the same process 

 will ere long, afford a farther glimpse of what I 

 desire to see. Another docs appear, and another ; 



