86 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



girl, of striking countenance and most singular 

 in her notions and likes. She had a strange 

 sympathy with nature in all its moods of varia- 

 tion. She was not morbid but hopeful and girl- 

 ishly happy. She would talk to the flowers and 

 trees as if they were persons and carry on a 

 iweirdly intelligent conversation quite beyond 

 her years. On cloudless evenings she would 

 look up into the sky and call the more promi- 

 nent stars by pet names, talking to them as if 

 she had once lived there and knew the people 

 and places. She would listen to the most in- 

 telligent story book and seemingly grasp it all. 

 She would entertain company so cleverly as if 

 of their own age and at ease on most topics of 

 conversation. She had the instinct of reading 

 one, interpreting thought by look and tone. 

 She did not surprise you, rather she interested 

 you. Her language and grace were a delight. 

 You made no attempt to get to the level of her 

 years, her look and words would not permit 

 you had you attempted it. She did not impress 

 you as a wonder or even as precocious, she was 

 so childish in bearing and spirit. She only 

 made you feel that she was singularly gifted 

 and affectionate. 



One summer's day after tea, she strolled out 

 into the garden with her doll, her inseparable 



