She taught me to embroider and to do other fine handwork.

Whenever she went with me into the garden and through the estate, she taught me all about the trees and flowers.

I was often allowed to pick the violets that grew in great abundance beneath the hedges and in the grass at the border of the little woods.

Oh, what beautiful days those were! Soon they were to become more perfect still for us.
"But I received an impression in those days which remained in my heart for a long while like a menacing power, often frightening me so that I was very unhappy.

Once my father came down very silently from the castle.