A JOURNAL KEPT IN THE COUNTRY. 153 



strong immediate odour, but the evanescent secondary 

 sweetness that begins at a few yards from the flowers, 

 drifted and hung about the paths, crossed at one 

 point by a rich suggestion from the strawberry quarter. 

 I took all the phenomena as a sort of welcome home ; 

 though in truth the motionless spires and shadowy 

 leafage of the borders, the solemnity which affects 

 all foliage under late evening light, never seemed 

 further from human communion. Nature will not 

 break her pact against man 



" Les jardins parlent peu, si ce n'est dans mon livre." 



Zero greeted me with an alarum of barks, his old eyes 

 failing him in the dusk ; and stood, when I called 

 him, head down and tail feebly wagging, crushed and 

 apologetic for the monstrous mistake. Bish pre- 

 sented himself, with impassive touch of hat-brim 

 and eyes on his boots, to hand over the vicegerency, 

 and ease his shoulders of the heavy burden of the 

 week's responsibility. I commend his care ; and half 

 unwillingly admitting that things are looking what 

 you might call pretty middlin'-like, the laboriously 

 honest soul departs, relieved of a weight. 



Lucy Sayers' welcome carries with it the impression 

 that I have been away on the Grand Tour. 



" I be glad to see you back, Sir ! I never can get 



