By this time he had become greatly reconciled to the loneliness of Nature, and no more was afraid in her solitary presence.
At the same time his heart had begun to ache and long after the communion of his kind.

For not once since he set out--and that seemed months where it was only weeks, had he had an opportunity of doing anything for anybody--except, indeed, unfastening the dog's collar; and not to be able to help was to Gibbie like being dead.
Everybody, down to the dogs, had been doing for him, and what was to become of him! It was a state altogether of servitude into which he had fallen.
May had now set in, but up here among the hills she was May by courtesy only: or if she was May, she would never be Might.

She was, indeed, only April, with her showers and sunshine, her tearful, childish laughter, and again the frown, and the despair irremediable.

Nay, as if she still kept up a secret correspondence with her cousin March, banished for his rudeness, she would not very seldom shake from her skirts a snow storm, and oftener the dancing hail.

Then out would come the sun behind her, and laugh, and say--"I could not help that; but here I am all the same, coming to you as fast as I can!" The green crops were growing darker, and the trees were all getting out their nets to catch carbon.