144 SOME HUMBLE ORCHIDS 



stemmed Angelica, topping stout stalks sometimes 

 six feet in height, and of the same general type 

 of growth as Wild Carrot, but more vigorous and 

 rigid throughout and with less compounded leaves. 

 In pushing between these plants, a strong aromatic 

 odor follows the bruising of even a single leaf. 

 Long wands of Colic -root, rising from rosettes of 

 lily-veined leaves, waved their mealy white, bell- 

 shaped blossoms above masses of Brakes, dwarf 

 Wild Roses, and Purple Milkwort, while the Elder 

 Flowers in the tangled background of Silver Birches 

 and Wild Crabs repeated in shrub form the color 

 of the Angelica. 



We stood upon a long mound, that was the 

 relic of a dyke thrown up years ago to keep the 

 high tides, which sometimes ventured across the 

 beach -crest and down the road, from drowning 

 out the meadows, and looked across the expanse 

 unbroken on either side for a mile or so, save for 

 a few groups of Oaks that made dark islands in 

 an inland sea of summer green. The sun came 

 out, and Flower Hat blinked as she vainly tried to 

 make the coquettish open-work brim of her head- 

 gear shield her eyes; and then, humbly accepting 

 a huge leaf of Cow Parsnip for a parasol, again 

 scanned the landscape. 



