SCIENCE. 185 



never to mention them, but awaited patiently the 

 denouement. Unfortunately, at this precise moment 

 of suspense, Weeville called to see me ; and although 

 I endeavored to distract his attention for his way 

 was always so painfully abrupt and tried to beguile 

 him with the seductions of the mint-bed, one of his 

 first questions was, 



&quot; Well, how goes on the garden ? Have you dis 

 covered any new. way of growing beans wrong end 

 up, or inducing potatoes to produce a dozen sprouts 

 to every eye ?&quot; 



I replied that my garden was getting along very 

 well ; and when he insisted upon a personal inspec 

 tion, that he might get a lesson or two in science, as 

 he expressed it, I did my best to lead him to the veg 

 etable department. But the attempt w r as vain. He 

 spied my strange flowers at once, and hastened di 

 rectly toward a Datura with an expression of coun 

 tenance that was far from reassuring. 



&quot;What on earth have you got there?&quot; he burst 

 forth, before he was near the plant, so that I, skill 

 fully pretending to misunderstand him, and assum 

 ing that his question applied to a shrub near by, re 

 plied, 



&quot; Oh, that is a spiraea. A handsome one, is it not ? 

 Growing finely ; it will soon cover the entire path.&quot; 



