24 MY GARDEN 



me by listening to them. The gardener, I repeat, 

 was delighted with them. He has already planned 

 the ground, and will be much disappointed." 



Then I read out the dismal tale, and, with the 

 glamour of a dead language stripped from it, each 

 item fell upon my wife's ear in stark English : 



" Cabbage, six varieties, includ- Radish, 



ing broccoli and Brussels Onion, five varieties, includ- 



sprouts, ing leeks, 



Seakale, f Lettuce, two varieties, 



Broad beans, Tomato, 



French beans, Salsify, 



Runner beans, Sage, 



Beetroot, Globe artichokes, 



Carrot, Jerusalem artichokes, 



Celery, Mint, 



Peas, four varieties, Thyme, 



Potatoes, Melons, 



Rhubarb, Cucumbers, 



Spinach, Marrows, 



Parsley, Aubergine." v 

 Parsnip, 



Of all beautiful flowers in nature, there is none 

 more beautiful than the smile of my wife. Unpre- 

 judiced people will vouch for it. 



She smiled now. She said, " It's lovely ; but you've 

 missed asparagus ! " 



" Into the waste-paper basket they go ! " I answered, 

 and suited the action to the word. But she quickly 

 dived after them ; and now they can all be seen in 

 their seasons poor, harmless, necessary wretches 

 covering my good ground and sprawling under my 

 good frames. 



