THE BULBARIUM 



213 



jection, as he pointed to two large, round- 

 shouldered sacks leaning wearily against the 

 coal-scuttle, " these are the supplies of moss- 

 fibre and crushed oyster-shell. Here are the 

 bulbs " — he indicated a number of paper bags 

 mth white labels, carefully arranged upon the 

 writing-table — " and if you'll follow me down 



^3. 



to the telephone-room I'll show you about forty 

 vases, bowls, pots, and soup-tureens, which I 

 have prepared for their reception." 



I have always entertained a morbid dislike 

 of telephone-rooms, but George was already 

 leading the way thither and I could not refuse 

 to accompany him. On the floor of that chill 

 and cheerless apartment stood a large bath con- 



