THE FANTASIES OF FERNS 



205 



then pinching the corners of the leaves together 

 most recklessly. 



"No, don't stop me," she exclaimed, as I was 

 going to speak. "I know it is a shabby way to 

 treat a book, but a novel printed from damaged 

 plates and bought in a ten -cent store is n't a 

 book. It's a crime! Besides, I can remember 

 these Ferns better from seeing them where 

 they grow and keeping these bits of leaves, 

 than in putting my eyes out and warping 

 my tongue by working them out prop- 

 erly with a botany. My mind, you ^H 

 see, is of the kindergarten order, that 

 needs nice interesting object les- 

 sons, such as your dear 

 Magician always gives. 



"Oh, what are those 

 great, silvery -looking Ferns 

 straight in front of me, with 

 the sweeping, slender stems? 

 Silver Spleenwort? What a com- 

 bination for a name! Yes, I see. . 

 The silvery effect in the distance 

 that disappears near to, comes from the whit- 

 ish shade of green and the light leaf lining. 

 Then the leaflets are round-edged instead of being 



