A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



whisperings among the pine tops, floated 

 through the air around. Above the olive- 

 green and tawny sedges where these earth 

 stars shone, each one single and alone 

 on its short upright stalk, there came 

 an Atalanta butterfly leisurely wandering 

 across the valley. ... I hope it was not 

 a very brutal impulse that moved me to nip 

 off and gather into a little bunch every 

 one of those wild Gentian flowers, and take 

 them carefully away! Some covetous eye 

 was almost sure to spy them out, some 

 heedless hand would pull up the roots and 

 carry them away to perish. But it seemed 

 rather like doing evil that good might 

 come ! 



More than nine years have slipped 

 by since the last of these garden notes in 

 September 1883. A new series was begun 

 in the February following, breaking off 

 before November. Three months are now 

 worked in to complete the twelve. Through 

 all these days and hours, changes of every 

 kind have passed over the old Bucking- 

 hamshire garden. Nine times has Spring 

 bloomed and ripened into summer there. 



