Huge cities arose before her, beautiful
structures, machines, ships, monuments, and infinite wealth, created
by the people, overwhelming the mind by the variety of nature's
products. Life widened endlessly; each day brought some new, huge
wonders. The awakened hungry soul of the woman was more and more
strongly aroused to the multitude of riches in the world, its
countless beauties. She especially loved to look through the great
folios of the zoological atlas, and although the text was written in
a foreign language, it gave her the clearest conception of the
beauty, wealth, and vastness of the earth.
"It's an immense world," she said to Nikolay at dinner.
"Yes, and yet the people are crowded for space."
The insects, particularly the butterflies, astonished her most.
"What beauty, Nikolay Ivanovich," she observed. "And how much of
this fascinating beauty there is everywhere, but all covered up
from us; it all flies by without our seeing it. People toss about,
they know nothing, they are unable to take delight in anything, they
have no inclination for it. How many could take happiness to
themselves if they knew how rich the earth is, how many wonderful
things live in it!"
Nikolay listened to her raptures, smiled, and brought her new
illustrated books.
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