"What is winter?" asked the Lilies, wonderingly.
"Winter is the time snow falls," said Verotchka.
"And what is snow?" asked the Lilies.
The Lilies even laughed at Verotchka. They thought the little northern girl was making fun of them. It is true that every fall huge flocks of birds from the North visited them and told them about the winter. But these birds had never really seen winter. They were only repeating what they had heard and Verotchka could not believe that there was no winter, for that meant no need of warm coats or warm shoes.
They flew further. Verotchka wondered no longer at the blue sea, the mountains, the sun-kissed desert and the Hyacinths.
"I'm too warm," complained Verotchka. "You know, Lady Bug, I don't think it's nice to have summer all the time."
"It all depends upon what one is accustomed to," said Lady Bug.