Chapter 1

           ItallseemedsorealthatIcouldhardlyimaginethatithadeveroccurredbefore;andyeteachepisodecame,notasafreshstepinthelogicofthings,butassomethingexpected.Itisinsuchawisethatmemoryplaysitspranksforgoodorill;forpleasureorpain;forwealorwoe.Itisthusthatlifeisbittersweet,andthatwhichhasbeendonebecomeseternal.

           Again,thelightskiff,ceasingtoshootthroughthelazywateraswhentheoarsflashedanddripped,glidedoutofthefierceJulysunlightintothecoolshadeofthegreatdroopingwillowbranches—Istandingupintheswayingboat,shesittingstillandwithdeftfingersguardingherselffromstraytwigsorthefreedomoftheresilienceofmovingboughs.Again,thewaterlookedgolden-brownunderthecanopyoftranslucentgreen;andthegrassybankwasofemeraldhue.Again,wesatinthecoolshade,withthemyriadnoisesofnaturebothwithoutandwithinourbowermergingintothatdrowsyhuminwhosesufficingenvironmentthegreatworldwithitsdisturbingtrouble,anditsmoredisturbingjoys,canbeeffectuallyforgotten.Again,inthatblissfulsolitudetheyounggirllosttheconventionofherprim,narrowupbringing,andtoldmeinanatural,dreamywayofthelonelinessofhernewlife.