April and Early May 



he rides, he drives, fearful of missing 

 some prize, with watchful eyes "down- 

 ward bent." I confess to the warmest 

 sympathy with that host or guide whose 

 efforts as cicerone are constantly frustrated 

 by the impatience with which his well- 

 meant expositions are met. It must be 

 exceedingly annoying to have the com- 

 panion of your drive persist in scanning 

 that side of the road which affords no 

 view, apparently, save that of underbrush, 

 while on the other hand stretch ranges of 

 glorious mountains or peaceful valleys; 

 and simply irritating that the friend whom 

 you have chosen to share with you the 

 beauty of the sunset, say, should incon- 

 siderately interrupt your dissertation upon 

 the quality of the light which is envelop- 

 ing the hillside, by a disproportionate ex- 

 clamation of joy as he tears a bedraggled- 

 looking weed from a cleft in the rocks. 



No, the would-be botanist can hardly 

 be called companionable, save to himself. 

 16 



