4 o A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



grey of a shadowy elm-tree background, 

 there has been for three weeks or more a 

 large round half-opened Rose : it blooms 

 at the end of a long summer rose-shoot. 

 In the wintry winds it has swung to and 

 fro undismayed. Once or twice I have 

 seen it crested with frost. The white 

 crystals fell away and left it bright as ever 

 when warmer days brought to it a new 

 warmth of colour. Now it begins to flag; 

 the pink petals have gradually hardened, 

 and some of the green leaves are withered; 

 but yet the half-opened rose endures 

 bravely, and sometimes shines like a rosy 

 star. The violet leaves, in sheltered places 

 under the walls, are just beginning to be 

 strewn with amethysts; and the double 

 lilac Marie Louise violets, which we turned 

 out in the borders, have borne flowers as 

 large and fragrant as those in the frames 

 all through the winter. If the old garden- 

 ing books may be believed, it is quite easy 

 to double the single purple wild Violet, 



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