But now she almost always had to enjoy that life alone, if we except the
company of Rob, who generally kept faithfully near her so long as she
saw fit to walk, but when she stopped to rest or to pursue some of her
botanical or entomological studies he was very apt to wander off on his
own account. He liked to keep moving.

One of her favorite resorts was what was called the "Near Woods," a
piece of forest land not far from Mr. Loudon's house, and within calling
distance of several dwellings and negro cabins. She visited Aunt Matilda
nearly every day; but the woods around her cabin were principally pine,
and pine forests are generally very sombre.

But the "Near Woods" were principally of oak and hickory, with dogwood,
sweet gum, and other smaller trees here and there; and there were open
spots where the sun shone in and where flowers grew and the insects
loved to come, as well as heavily shaded places under grand old trees.

She thoroughly enjoyed herself in a wood like this. She did not feel in
the least lonely, although she would have found herself sadly alone in a
busy street of a great city.

Here, she was acquainted with everything she saw. There was company for
her on every side. She had not been in the habit of passing the trees
and the bushes, the lichens and ferns, and the flowers and mosses as if
they were merely people hurrying up and down the street. She had stopped
and made their acquaintance, and now she knew them all, and they were
her good friends, excepting a few, such as the poison-vines, and here
and there a plant or reptile, with which she was never on terms of
intimacy.