A study of characterisation in the novels of George Eliot

efer-exk0s to the children merge into [l general clis0ssion of the universal
moral value of such early ezperience.. This
is presented. to us as typical, not unique. Other
experience
sodes in
the life of George Eliot herself or those
her
bRptiSlTk1.l fU':-::'ctioll.
these epoch;~
closely resemble 7!ordsworth t s Itspots of time. Ii
Life did change for Tom and IL.:.1.ggie; and
were not; I:.cong
in believing that the thoughts and loves of c. ;8::38 first YCtU's
'llould always make part of their lives. ':Ie could never have loved the
earth':lo well if we had w.id no childhood in it,--if it Viere not
the earth where the same flowers come up every spring that
we used to gather '/lith our tiny as we sat to ourselves
on the grass--the same hi1)5 andhllws on the autumn
the same redbrea:"ts t11at we useo. to call "Go,;' s birds n, because
they c.id no hnrm to the precious crops. Vrnat is Ylorth
that s-.-:eet harmony where everything is known,
because
it is known?
The wocd. I 'Nalk in on this mild May day, with the young
brown of the oaks betvleen me and 'Glue sky, the white
star-flowers and the blue-eyed speedw'ell 8J.'J.