412 Landscape Gardening 



he was mistaken in the kind of a fruit, he sent him the follow- 

 ing characteristic lines: 



"TO THE DOCTOR, ON HIS PASSION FOR THE 'DUCHESS OF 

 OLDENBURGH.' ' 



"Dear Doctor, I write you this little effusion, 

 On learning you're still in that fatal delusion 

 Of thinking the object you love is a Duchess, 

 When 'tis only a milkmaid you hold in your clutches; 

 Why, 'tis certainly plain as the spots in the sun, 

 That the creature is only a fine Dutch Mignonne. 

 She is Dutch there is surely no question of that, - 

 She's so large and so ruddy --so plump and so fat; 

 And that she's a Mignonne a beauty most moving, 

 Is equally proved by your desperate loving; 

 But that she's a Duchess I flatly deny, 

 There's such a broad twinkle about her deep eye; 

 And glance at the russety hue of her skin - 

 A lady a noble -- would think it a sin! 

 Ah no, my dear Doctor, upon my own honor, 

 I must send you a dose of the true Bella donna!" 



I had expressed great delight with the magnolia, and 

 carried one of the flowers in my hand during our morning 

 stroll. At evening he handed me a fresh one, and every 

 day while I remained, the breakfast-room was perfumed by 

 the magnolia that was placed beside my plate. This deli- 

 cate thoughtfulness was universal with him. He knew all 

 the flowers that his friends especially loved; and in his notes 

 to me he often wrote, "the magnolias are waiting for you," 

 as an irresistible allurement - - which it was very apt to prove. 

 Downing was in the library when I came down the morning 

 after our arrival. He had the air of a man who has been 

 broad awake and at work for several hours. There was 

 the same quiet greeting as before - - a gay conversation, 

 glancing at a thousand things - - and breakfast. After 

 breakfast he disappeared; but if, at any time, an excursion 

 was proposed, - - to climb some hill, to explore some mead- 

 ows rich in rhododendron, to visit some lovely lake, - - he 

 was quite ready, and went with the same unhurried air that 

 marked all his actions. Like Sir Walter Scott, he was pro- 



