For a while everybody was silent. There was a spell of nature, which even the young people did not care to break. Flora drew a long breath, at last, and then Maggie spoke.
"Uncle Eden, we came here to talk."
"Did we?"
"I thought we did—to talk and to read."
"Nature is doing some talking, and we are listening."
"What does Nature say?"
"Do you hear nothing?"
Maggie thought she did, and yet she could not have told what. "It is not very plain, Uncle Eden," she remarked.
"It becomes plainer and plainer the older you grow, Maggie,—that is, supposing you keep your ears open."
"But I would like to know what your ears hear, Uncle Eden."