Familiarity did not breed contempt.

The magnificent spaces and mighty silence appealed to him with increasing force.

The columns of the trees were like cathedral aisles and the pure breath of the wind was fresh with life.
The first part of the autumn was hot and dry.

The foliage died fast, the leaves twisted and dried up and the brown grass stems fell lifeless to the earth.

A long time they were without rain, and a dull haze of heat hung over the simmering earth.