indeed, it was an exceedingly pleasant sight, those bright little souls at their task! moreover, it was really wonderful to observe how knowingly and skilfully they managed the matter. violet assumed the chief direction, and told peony what to do, while, with her own delicate fingers, she shaped out all the nicer parts of the snow-figure. it seemed, in fact, not so much to be made by the children, as to grow up under their hands, while they were playing and prattling about it. their mother was quite surprised at this; and the longer she looked, the more and more surprised she grew.