56 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



ing. At no other time is the earth so delightful a 

 place to live on. 



As the yellow came, so it dies, first. Then the 

 white passes into the prevailing green of summer ; 

 after which there are no more colour masses or 

 patches that can be seen at a distance, till the fields 

 fade into straw or golden shades, and the woods 

 take on the tints of autumn. 



In this the showering season of the year, the 

 hues are kept incessantly pure. These cloud 

 masses, with their lit summits and dark defiles, 

 resting on an ocean of vapoury haze, have retired 

 to the horizon to give the midday hours over to 

 the sun. In the afternoon they will come up 

 again to wash the faces of the flowers afresh ; 

 again to roll away from the west, that their edge 

 may be touched by the sunset. 



After her morning, and again after her evening 

 bath, at this maidenly time of the year, nature 

 looks very fresh and charming. It is then that 

 one falls in love with her, and never tires of look- 

 ing on her face. I can imagine no greater delight 

 it is one I have often known, and would not 

 willingly miss than to turn towards the largest 

 mass of yellow within reach, in the interval 

 between the ceasing of the afternoon shower and 



