FIFTH JOURNEY. 



CHAPTER I. 



^ince the beginning of the year unusually mild 

 weather had prevailed all over central Kurope, and many 

 plants in the Rhine valley wore quite a spring-like appear- 

 ance in the early days of March. The drooping twigs 

 of the Willows were already' clothed in tender green. 

 The Cornel ( Cor/ms mas) was decked with its yellowish 

 dowers, and Crocuses, Snowdrops, Daffodils and Winter 

 Aconites (Erantliis liieinalis) brightened the garden 

 borders. With spring so far advanced and promising, 

 it was difficult to decide on leaving home ; and on the 

 other side of the Alps we almost regretted our decision. 

 For the trees were still bare, and only clumps ot Prim- 

 roses and white Crocuses held forth a promise of warmer 

 days. The whole winter had been exceptionally mild 

 and sunn-\- in Southern Europe ; but the vegetation 



