Picking Blue Violets
The Italian stops once during the walk to pick Lucy some great blue violets. She thanks him with real pleasure, feeling the influence of Spring for the first time in his company. He offers to show her more violets, but she insists they find the good men first.
Walking Through the Undergrowth
They proceed briskly through thickening undergrowth toward the edge of the promontory. The view begins to steal around them, but the brown network of bushes shatters it into countless pieces. Lucy rejoices in her escape from dullness, finding every step and twig important.
Hearing a Distant Voice
A voice sounds in the distance behind them, and Lucy wonders if it is Mr. Eager. The Italian shrugs, unable to grasp her concern that they may have missed the clergymen. The view continues to form around them, revealing the river, golden plain, and other hills.
Falling onto the Violet Terrace
The ground gives way beneath Lucy and she falls with a cry out of the wood, landing on a little open terrace covered with violets. Her companion, now standing above her, calls out “Courage and love.” The terrace is the primal source from which violets cascade down the hillside in profusion.
Meeting George Emerson
At the terrace’s edge stands not the expected clergyman but George Emerson, alone. He turns at her arrival and contemplates her as one who has fallen out of heaven, seeing radiant joy in her face and blue waves of flowers against her dress.
George Kisses Lucy
The bushes close above them, and George steps quickly forward and kisses her before she can speak or even fully feel what has happened.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.