222 EARLY SUMMER 



arranging a stall, and, above all, maintaining its 

 condition during three or four days when heat, 

 dust, and inquiring customers combine to disturb 

 the artistic effect, and all these have to be learnt. 

 There is time, though, for some amusement, and 

 in the evenings, when attendance is not required, 

 the stall is left and some of the party go to the 

 Coliseum, where they get fresh ideas for new 

 chorus songs and dances, so dear to the hearts of 

 young women. So, with renewed vigour and a 

 wider outlook upon life, the little band of gardeners 

 return with all their various equipment to the 

 peace of the garden, where the hum of bees and 

 the call of birds have gone on uninterruptedly 

 during their absence. 



Fragrant scent of sweetbriar, elderflower, and 

 thorn are wafted into the rooms, for the steamy, 

 hot, sunshiny days, days of " good growing 

 weather," have come at last. Quick growth has 

 followed, so that yellow alyssum, grown brighter, 

 vies with tall doronicum in depth of colour and 

 geum " Mrs. Bradshaw " has hastened into bloom, 

 although it seems but yesterday that daffodils 

 turned pale before they said good-bye. Alpine 

 strawberries in the chinks between paving-stones 

 are in full flower and other old friends are coming 

 quickly back to greet us. A few days' absence 

 makes such happenings noticeable and adds to 

 the pleasure of returning home. The garden world 

 is once more in full progress and with all stir and 

 movement, too, come new recruits who have heard, 

 at Chelsea, what a happy, busy life it is and wish to 

 do their share in making the earth yield her plenty. 



