May was half over and the last patch of snow had vanished from the crest
of Helvellyn, from Eagle's Crag and Raven's Crag, and Coniston Old Man.
Spring--slow to come along these shadowy gorges--had come in real
earnest now, spring that was almost summer; and Lady Maulevrier's
gardens were as lovely as dreamland. But it was an unpeopled paradise.
Mary had the grounds all to herself, except at those stated times when
the Fraeulein, who was growing lazier and larger day by day in her
leisurely and placid existence, took her morning and afternoon
constitutional on the terrace in front of the drawing-room, or solemnly
perambulated the shrubberies.
On fine days Mary lived in the garden, save when she was far afield
learning the domestic arts from the cottagers. She read French and
German, and worked conscientiously at her intellectual education, as
well as at domestic economy. For she told herself that accomplishments
and culture might be useful to her in her married life. She might be
able to increase her husband's means by giving lessons abroad, or taking
pupils at home.
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