84 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



element progresses when once it gets a start, or is 

 affected when once it becomes fashionable. One 

 is sometimes not unreasonably disposed to doubt 

 the genuineness of the admiration, even when the 

 thing admired deserves it all. The banks where 

 it grew are invaded ; and even its great abundance, 

 so seldom the case, is not sufficient to make it 

 vulgar. 



Rich and poor meet when there is no need for 

 search and no excuse for competition. Coarse 

 hands pluck it and put it into the broken jug in 

 the kitchen. Dainty hands pluck it and put it in 

 the shapely vase in the drawing-room, with a few 

 grasses to give lightness. What could be more 

 exquisite ? Where else could it be matched, were 

 one to wander over all the summer fields ? Per- 

 haps an edging of dog-roses ! No ! they are better 

 by themselves. " What a pretty name too !'"' 



As if that had not been given by people with 

 better eyes in their heads, when it was only the 

 horse-gowan here. One wonders how the mar- 

 guerite likes it. 



" And what a perfect massing and combination 

 of two simple colours !" 



As if this, too, had not been found out ages ago, 



There is a disposition to laugh at the long classic 



