I thought the shaggy, unkempt hills of Delaware County were heavenly--and they _were_ when you came and made them so--but this rich, green, well-ordered country with its hills and woods and meadows of emerald--its calm river, its lovely little brooks, its gardens, hedges, farms, is to me the most wonderful land I ever looked upon.
"Helene has a pretty house, white with green blinds and verandas, and the loveliest lawns you ever saw--unless the English lawns are lovelier.
"To my city-wearied eyes the region is celestial in its horizon-wide quiet.

Only the ripple of water in leafy ravines--only the music of birds breaks the silence that is so welcome, so blessed.
"To-day Helene and I picked strawberries for breakfast, then filled the house with great fragrant peonies, some of which are the colour of Brides' roses, some of water-lilies.
"I'm quite mad with delight; I love the farm with its ducks and hens and pigeons; I adore the cattle in the meadow.

They are fragrant.

Helene laughs at me because I follow the cows about, sniffing luxuriously.

They smell like the clover they chew.
"Louis, dear, I have decided to remain a week here, if you don't mind.
I'm a little tired, I think.