"The Japanese Quince" is John Galsworthy's short story of the beauty of nature, and its symbolism of perfection in contrast to the sameness of everyday life.

As the story begins, it is a spring morning in 1910 London. A man named, Mr. Nilson, opens the window of his dressing room and experiences "a peculiar sweetish sensation" in the back of his throat, in addition to a feeling of emptiness under his ribs. Mr. Nilson notes the temperature of 60 degrees and sees that the little tree in the garden has begun to blossom.

Mr. Nilson is momentarily exuberant at the thought that spring has arrived, but then turns back to the business of his stocks and his scrutiny of his face in the mirror. Reassured that he is the picture of health, Mr. Nilson dons his frock coat and heads downstairs to retrieve his morning paper. Overcome...