Chapter 5
The Conceited Apple-BranchIT was the month of May. The wind still blew cold; but
from bush and tree, field and flower, came the welcome sound,
"Spring is come." Wild-flowers in profusion covered the hedges.
Under the little apple-tree, Spring seemed busy, and told his tale
from one of the branches which hung fresh and blooming, and covered
with delicate pink blossoms that were just ready to open. The
branch well knew how beautiful it was; this knowledge exists as
much in the leaf as in the blood; I was therefore not surprised
when a nobleman's carriage, in which sat the young countess,
stopped in the road just by. She said that an apple-branch was a
most lovely object, and an emblem of spring in its most charming
aspect. Then the branch was broken off for her, and she
