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126 underneath; indeed, there was such a blending of light and colour, sunshine and shade, forest, hill, and stream, that I thought it one of the loveliest scenes I had ever beheld. I expressed my ideas to Alvarez. She said she loved this charming spot, as she found it congenial and soothing to her mind, and that she often wandered here alone to pluck the growing flowers and dream the hours away; that she loved the sublime and beautiful, and not unfrequently felt a longing to see and know more of our wonderful planet.

We rested on a fallen tree overlooking the stream. Beautiful birds were above and all round us: they were very busy and happy collecting the honey from the blossoms, then flying away and returning.

Alvarez told me they were suctorial birds, storing up the honey they gathered in the hollow limbs for the months of twilight, as the trees were not then in blossom. She inquired if I had not seen many beautiful islands and countries in other parts of the world, and had not been impressed by their scenery and people?

I answered in the affirmative; but then in other parts everything changed so suddenly that happiness did not possess the permanency that