JANUARY 



in mind of Scotland. The brown heath- 

 land glowed with autumn-flowering furze; 

 that low creeping kind which inter-threads 

 among the heather, and glows in the sun- 

 shine like embroidery of the richest gold. 

 There remained still some scattered tufts 

 of pink bell-heather and ling ; green-grey 

 lichen at their roots, variegated with 

 delicious tones the all-prevailing brown. 



Suddenly, low among the moss, in a wet 

 boggy spot, between two heathery fir- 

 crowned braes, I became aware of a soft 

 gleam of blue. It was the pale azure of 

 wild gentian. The flowers were opened 

 wide in all their gentle loveliness, drinking 

 in the full joy of mid-day. 



It may not be rare, I believe it to be only 

 what is called * local,' but to me it was 

 absolutely new. It is very delicate and 

 shy and how exquisite is its dream-like 

 reflex of that other deep blue dweller on 

 the Alps ! The place where it grew was 

 still, as might be any moorland solitude 

 miles away from everybody. Only an in- 

 distinct low murmur either of the sea or 

 noises of the town, mingled with light 



