FIRST YEARS OF SUCCESS. 123 



day and night, and higher up, upon the downs, 

 the skies are full of larks carolling at c Heaven's 

 gate/ But the poor woman hears them not. 

 She has no memories of poetry; her mind can 

 call up no beautiful thoughts to associate with 

 the flower or the bird. She can sign her name 

 in a scrawling hand, and she can spell through 

 simple print, but to all intents and purposes 

 she is completely ignorant. Therefore, she 

 cannot see, that is, appreciate or feel, the 

 beauty with which she is surrounded. Yet, 

 despite the harsh, rude life she leads, there 

 works up to the surface some little instinctive 

 yearning after a higher condition. The yellow 

 flowers in the cottage-garden why is it that 

 cottagers are so fond of yellow? the gilly- 

 flower, the single stock, marigolds, and such 

 old-fashioned favourites, show a desire for orna- 

 ment; still more so the occasional geranium 

 in the window, specially tended by the wife." 



Later on he returns to the subject, and 

 relates the story of Dolly most mournful, most 

 tragic, full of tears and pity. 



He now began to alternate his practical 



