The  advance  of  vegetation,  in  this  softer  climate,  is  less
abrupt  than  the  inhabitant  of  the  cold  North  is  accustomed

to  observe.     Beginning   earlier  —  even  in  February

Spring  is  not  compelled  to  burst  into  Summer  with  such
headlong  haste  ;  there  is  time  to  dwell  upon  each  opening
beauty,  and  to  enjoy  the  budding  leaf,  the  tender  green,
the  sweet  youth  and  freshness  of  the  year ;  it  gives  us  its
maiden  charm,  before  settling  into  the  married  Summer,
which,  again,  does  not  so  soon  sober  itself  into  matronly
Autumn.  In  our  own  country,  the  virgin  Spring  hastens
to  its  bridal  too  abruptly.  But,  here,  after  a  month  or
two  of  kindly  growth,  the  leaves  of  the  young  trees,
which  cover  that  portion  of  the  Borghese  grounds  near-
est the  city  wall,  were  still  in  their  tender  half-devel-
opment.
In  the  remoter  depths,  among  the  old  groves  of  ilex-
trees,  Hilda  and  Kenyon  heard  the  faint  sound  of  music,


132  ROMANCE   OF  MONTE  BENI.
laughter,  and  mingling  voices.  It  was  probably  the  up-
roar —  spreading  even  so  far  as  the  walls  of  Rome,  and
growing  faded  and  melancholy  in  its  passage  —  of  that
wild  sylvan  merriment,  which  we  have  already  attempted
to  describe.  By  and  by,  it  ceased ;  although  the  two
listeners  still  tried  to  distinguish  it  between  the  bursts  of
nearer  music  from  the  military  band.  But  there  was  no
renewal  of  that  distant  mirth.  Soon  afterwards,  they  saw
a  solitary  figure,  advancing  along  one  of  the  paths  that
lead  from  the  obscurer  part  of  the  grounds,  towards  the
gateway.
"  Look  !  is  it  not  Donatello  ?  "  said  Hilda.
