UI, YEROXICA. 67 



sprinkling itself with unwholesome sugar like a larkspur, 

 nor varying into coppery or turquoise-like hue as the 

 forget-me-not; but keeping itself as modest as a blue 

 print, pale, in the most frequent kinds ; but pure exceed- 

 ingly ; and rejoicing in fellowship with the grey of its 

 native rocks. The palest of all I think it will be well 

 to remember as Veronica Clara, the "Poor Clare" of 

 Veronicas. I find this note on it in my diary, 



4 The flower of an exquisite grey- white, like lichen, or 

 shaded hoar-frost, or dead silver; making the long- 

 weathered stones it grew upon perfect with a finished 

 modesty of paleness, as if the flower could be blue, and 

 would not, for their sake. Laying its fine small leaves 

 along in embroidery, like Anagallis tenella, indescrib- 

 able in the tender feebleness of it afterwards as it grew, 

 dropping the little blossoms from the base of the spire, 

 before the buds at the top had blown. Gathered, it was 

 happy beside me, with a little water under a stone, and 

 put out one pale blossom after another, day by day.' 



10. Lastly, and for a high worthiness, in my estimate, 

 note that it is wild, of the wildest, and proud in pure 

 descent of race ; submitting itself to no follies of the 

 cur-breeding florist. Its species, though many resem- 

 bling each other, are severally constant in aspect., and 

 easily recognizable; and I have never seen it provoked 

 to glare into any gigantic impudence at a flower show. 

 Fortunately, perhaps, it is scentless, and so despised. 



11. Before I attempt arranging its families, we must 



