Julia. May I go into the garden? The sun is in the west, but he is not set. Look, mamma, how beautiful the sky is! The clouds are like gold! And see, the fields and trees, a great way off, are of a beautiful purple colour; while the elm trees here, on this side of the garden, look almost yellow, because the sun shines on them. Mamma, may I go to the bottom of the lane, behind the elm trees? I shall have time to go there before the sun is quite gone.
Mrs. Vincent. Why, Julia, do you wish to go there?
Julia. Because the bank, near the end of the lane, is covered with primroses, and violets, and cowslips. You know, mamma, Mary, my dear Mary, will come home to-morrow. Now I should like to pick a great many flowers, and put them into her room, to look pretty and to smell sweet. Mary is fond of primroses, violets, and cowslips. May I go, mamma? I will not be gone long: I will run very fast all the way there, and all the way back. May I go, mamma?
Mrs. V. Yes, my dear, you may: you may stay out half an hour—not longer.
Julia. Oh, thank you, mamma! Half an hour is very long: I shall come in sooner than that. I am sure I shall not stay out so long, so very long, as half an hour.
Mrs. V. I do not desire you to come in sooner; but if you do not take care, you will, perhaps, stay beyond the time I have mentioned. Half an hour will pass very quickly, whilst you are busy gathering your nosegay.
Julia. I believe you are right, mamma; for I never know when it is an hour, or when it is half an hour. When I am doing any thing that is disagreeable, the time seems so long; but when I am talking with you, or doing any thing that is very agreeable, an hour seems like a minute. How shall I know when to come in? Can you tell me, mamma?
Mrs. V. It is now half past six o’clock; when the church clock strikes seven, come in.
Julia. Oh, yes! thank you, mamma. I can hear the church clock strike very well, from the place where the primroses grow; and I can listen all the time I am gathering the flowers.
Mrs. V. Well, put on your hat; make haste. If you go on chattering here, the half hour will be over before you get to the bank.