Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/89



LL the earth was rejoicing with the thrill of the spring.

The song-birds were returning, and through the hush cf morning and of evening the merry song of the starling and the sweet piping of the woodlark stirred the woods. In all green moss-grown places violets were blossoming and the tender fronds of new ferns uncurling; along the sides of all the runlets of water the first primroses were budding, and all along the sandy shores the squills and the sea daffodils were beginning to appear. The nights began to grow melodious, the first nightingales arriving with their love chaunts; and all the daylight seemed full of Hitting wings and amorous trills till even the sombre rosemary