32 A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



enough, nor any language rich enough to 

 give its perfect beauty. Dear innocent 

 flower of home ! There are exiles under 

 skies of eastern drouth whose brave hearts 

 faint with longing if they do but for a 

 moment dwell upon the thought of your 

 cold loveliness. 



FEBRUARY 14. The happy birds are 

 keeping St Valentine's Day, and I have 

 found an Echo ! There seems ever a 

 weird charm in the mysterious presence 

 which makes such arbitrary choice of some 

 special spot, building or rock, and lives 

 there for ever silent and unknown until 

 awoke by chance, and then is so warily on 

 the watch, ever ready to start up and mock 

 the passer-by with a hollow imitation of 

 his voice or footstep. Doubtless there is 

 some scientific explanation, but it does 

 really seem that Echo is a capricious being, 

 and will come and go much as she pleases; 

 else why is it that, after haunting a place 

 for years, she will sometimes disappear one 

 day without rhyme or reason, and never 

 come back ? I have not thought of it for 



