CONCERNING ROSE- SHOWS. 1 99 



when, finally, he declared himself perfectly satis- 

 fied, because " the lady in question was waiting 

 for him at that moment (in robust health and in 

 Belgrave Square), that they might refresh them- 

 selves with luncheon," — he completely demolished 

 the baseless fabric of my little dream, how charm- 

 ing it would be to have an hour's table-talk with 

 some of our old Rosarians. 



I am with them, nevertheless, and without 

 humbug, in spirit many a time, honoring their 

 memories, and always regarding them with a 

 thankful, filial love. I like to think of them 

 among their Roses, as I wander among my own, 

 mindful how much of my happiness I owe, 

 humanly speaking, to their skill and enterprise ; 

 remembering them as we Rosarians of to-day 

 would fain be remembered hereafter, when our 

 children's children shall pluck their snow-white 

 Marie Beauman : 



" Pure 

 As sunshine glancing on a white dove's ^vings," 



and shall wish we were there to see. I like to 

 think ot Lee of Hammersmith complacently sur- 

 veying those standard Rose-trees which he intro- 

 duced from France in the year 18 18, which were 

 the first ever seen in England, and which he sold 



