In Shirley's nature prevailed at times an easy indolence. There were periods when she took delight in perfect vacancy of hand and eye--moments when her thoughts, her simple existence, the fact of the world being around and heaven above her, seemed to yield her such fullness of happiness that she did not need to lift a finger to increase the joy. Often, after an active morning, she would spend a sunny afternoon in lying stirless on the turf, at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage. No society did she need but that of Caroline, and it sufficed if she were within call; no spectacle did she ask but that of the deep blue sky, and such cloudlets as sailed afar and aloft across its span; no sound but that of the bee's hum, the leaf's whisper. Her sole book in such hours was the dim chronicle of memory or the sibyl page of anticipation. From her young eyes fell on each volume a glorious light to read by; round her lips at moments played a smile which revealed glimpses of the tale or prophecy. It was not sad, not dark. Fate had been benign to the blissful dreamer, and promised to favour her yet again. In her past were sweet passages, in her future rosy hopes.
Yet one day when Caroline drew near to rouse her, thinking she had lain long enough, behold, as she looked down, Shirley's cheek was wet as if with dew; those fine eyes of hers shone humid and brimming.

Shirley enjoyed at times an easy indolence. There were periods when she took delight in thinking and doing nothing - moments when her simple existence, with the world around and heaven above her, seemed to give her such happiness that she did not need to lift a finger to increase the joy. Often, after an active morning, she would spend a sunny afternoon lying on the turf, in the shade of a tree. No society did she need but Caroline's; no spectacle did she ask but the deep blue sky, and such cloudlets as sailed across it; no sound but the bee's hum, the leaf's whisper. Her sole book in such hours was the dim chronicle of memory, or the page of blissful anticipation of the future. In her past were sweet passages, in her future rosy hopes.
Yet one such day when Caroline looked down at her, Shirley's cheek was wet.
