V

           TherehadneverbeensuchaJuneinEagleCounty.Usuallyitwasamonthofmoods,withabruptalternationsofbelatedfrostandmid-summerheat;thisyear,dayfolloweddayinasequenceoftemperatebeauty.Everymorningabreezeblewsteadilyfromthehills.Towardnoonitbuiltupgreatcanopiesofwhitecloudthatthrewacoolshadowoverfieldsandwoods;thenbeforesunsetthecloudsdissolvedagain,andthewesternlightraineditsunobstructedbrightnessonthevalley.

           OnsuchanafternoonCharityRoyalllayonaridgeaboveasunlithollow,herfacepressedtotheearthandthewarmcurrentsofthegrassrunningthroughher.Directlyinherlineofvisionablackberrybranchlaiditsfrailwhiteflowersandblue-greenleavesagainstthesky.Justbeyond,atuftofsweet-fernuncurledbetweenthebeadedshootsofthegrass,andasmallyellowbutterflyvibratedoverthemlikeafleckofsunshine.Thiswasallshesaw;butshefelt,aboveherandabouther,thestronggrowthofthebeechesclothingtheridge,theroundingofpalegreenconesoncountlessspruce-branches,thepushofmyriadsofsweet-fernfrondsinthecracksofthestonyslopebelowthewood,andthecrowdingshootsofmeadowsweetandyellowflagsinthepasturebeyond.Allthisbubblingofsapandslippingofsheathsandburstingofcalyxeswascarriedtoheronmingledcurrentsoffragrance.