136 A WHITE-PAPER GARDEN 



What a list ! Yet where are they now ? Even 

 the pot-pourri in which they lived a second 

 life, since 



" Of their sweet deaths are sweeter odours made," 



has gone out of fashion. 



Still, in sheltered homes in byway villages 

 there are even yet women who compound the 

 delicate blending of scents that are treasured 

 in Chinese jars, or old painted French urns, 

 and that their secrets may not be wholly 

 forgotten here is a recipe of their cherishing. 



" Gather the roses on a fair clear morning 

 after the dews are dried. Take them into the 

 spare chamber, on the floor of which fresh 

 linen sheets have been spread. Crumble the 

 leaves [petals] gently from the hearts of the 

 roses, and sprinkle the sheets thickly with 

 them. Open the window towards the sun 

 until evening. The next day the leaves will 

 be so withered that what filled two sheets 

 may now be spread on one, and fresh-gathered 

 leaves may be strewed on the empty spaces. 

 On the third morning the leaves will be still 

 more dried, so that you may gather up the 

 first day's roses and place them in an empty 



