Chapter9BUTtheprivations,orratherthehardships,ofLowoodlessened.Springdrewon—shewasindeedalreadycome;thefrostsofwinterhadceased;itssnowsweremelted,itscuttingwindsameliorated.Mywretchedfeet,flayedandswollentolamenessbythesharpairofJanuary,begantohealandsubsideunderthegentlerbreathingsofApril;thenightsandmorningsnolongerbytheirCanadiantemperaturefrozetheverybloodinourveins;wecouldnowenduretheplayhourpassedinthegarden;sometimesonasunnydayitbeganeventobepleasantandgenial,andagreennessgrewoverthosebrownbeds,which,fresheningdaily,suggestedthethoughtthatHopetraversedthematnight,andlefteachmorningbrightertracesofhersteps.Ilowerspeepedoutamongtheleaves:snowdrops,crocuses,purpleauriculas,andgolden-eyedpansies.OnThursdayafternoons(halfholidays)wenowtookwalks,andfoundstillsweeterflowersopeningbythewaysideunderthehedges.Idiscovered,too,thatagreatpleasure,anenjoymentwhichthehorizononlybounded,layalloutsidethehighandspike-guardedwallsofourgarden:thispleasureconsistedinprospectofnoblesummitsgirdlingagreathill-hollow,richinverdureandshadow;inabrightbeck,fullofdarkstonesandsparklingedges.HowdifferenthadthisscenelookedwhenIvieweditlaidoutbeneaththeironskyofwinter,stiffenedinfrost,shroudedwithsnow!—whenmistsaschillasdeathwanderedtotheimpulseofeastwindsalongthosepurplepeaks,androlleddown'ing'andholmtilltheyblendedwiththefrozenfogofthebeck!Thatbeckitselfwasthenatorrent,turbidandcurbless;ittoreasunderthewood,andsentaravingsoundthroughtheairoftenthickenedwithwildrainorwhirlingsleet;andfortheforestonitsbanks,thatshowedonlyranksofskeletons.ApriladvancedtoMay—abrightsereneMayitwas;daysofbluesky,placidsunshine,andsoftwesternorsoutherngalesfilledupitsduration.Andnowvegetationmaturedwithvigour;Lowoodshooklooseitstresses;itbecameallgreen,allflowers;itsgreatelm,ash,andoakskeletonswererestoredtomajesticlife;woodlandplantssprangupprofuselyinitsrecesses;unnumberedvarietiesofmossfilleditshollows,anditmadeastrangeground-sunshineoutofthewealthofitswildprimroseplants:Ihaveseentheirpalegoldgleaminoversh