238 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



lovely than words can describe ; and Sir Thomas told 

 us that it was " the day of the year when there were 

 more flowers than at any other time." He explained 

 most interestingly all we wished to know about the 

 exotic trees and flowers, hospitably entertained us 

 in the old " Palazza," and was so considerate as to 

 have some of his gardeners ready to carry Sir 

 William Flower in a chair up the steep paths of the 

 garden to his carriage. We had a cheerful drive 

 along the Corniche Road back to San Remo, and 

 next morning he said that not only did he not feel 

 fatigued but "better for knowing La Mortola," so 

 that it gave hope again of ultimate recovery. Yet 

 on the evening of that very day a sudden fainting 

 came on, and for many anxious nights and days 

 he was dangerously ill; but Dr. Michael Foster 1 

 was unremitting in his attentions, and gradually 

 the precious health was so far restored that my 

 husband was able to undertake the journey to 

 England (accompanied by Mr. H. C. Shann of 

 York), by way of Milan and the Italian Lakes, 

 another long-cherished wish ; and the loveliness of 

 Lago Maggiore in the sweet spring days of April 

 induced a prolonged stay at Stresa, though increasing 

 palpitations of the heart and consequent breathless- 

 ness became very alarming. One night he awoke 

 feeling so weak, that with his own medical knowledge 

 he thought " failure of the heart " was imminent; but 

 even then preserving his usual calm and his usual 



1 Son of Sir Michael Foster, Treasurer of the Royal Society. 



