He roamed into the woods, and he felt a pleasure that resembled his earlier life of an artist, but a pleasure yet more subtle and vivid, in the various colours of the autumn foliage.

Certainly Nature seemed to be brought closer to him; he comprehended better all that Mejnour had often preached to him of the mystery of sympathies and attractions.

He was about to enter into the same law as those mute children of the forests.

He was to know THE RENEWAL OF LIFE; the seasons that chilled to winter should yet bring again the bloom and the mirth of spring.

Man's common existence is as one year to the vegetable world: he has his spring, his summer, his autumn, and winter,--but only ONCE.