OCTOBER 189 



sow themselves over and over again, and flower at all 

 sorts of unexpected times. As they proudly defy early 

 frosts, they become really precious with their grand glow- 

 ing orange faces. As is so often the case, the single ones, 

 with their varieties of dark and light centres, are prettier 

 than the double ones, though both may be grown to suit 

 all tastes, the colour always being good. No garden, 

 however small, should be without this patch devoted to 

 Marigolds. I do not dislike their pungent smell, as 

 many do. 



The wet has kept the leaves long green and fresh on 

 the trees, but the cold of last night brought down at 

 once the great succulent leaves of some young Horse 

 Chestnuts not far from here. Just about this garden they 

 will not grow, as they so dislike the sand. As I passed 

 them to-day I noticed the leaves all lay in heaps, freshly 

 fallen round the slight stems, on the green grass, fold on 

 fold, in the low autumn sunshine. Very beautiful, like 

 Keats's description in ' St. Agnes' Eve ' of fair Madeline 

 unrobing : 



Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees, 

 Unclasps her warmed jewels one by one, 

 Loosens her fragrant bodice ; by degrees 

 Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees, 

 Half hidden, like a mermaid in seaweed. 



So the trees stood up this afternoon, with all their summer 

 clothing round their feet. 



I always long at this time of the year to have been to 

 Japan to see one of their Chrysanthemum shows. I am 

 told our individual flowers are far finer, but their method 

 of arranging the shows is so superior to ours, and the 

 effect produced is naturally much more lovely. They 

 arrange them in bands and waves of colour, from the 

 darkest red to the palest pink, fading into white ; and up 

 again from pale lemon, yellow, and orange to the darkest 



