SUMMER IN THE ALPS 85 



between. Possibly Nature uses green to a like 

 end and purpose. In any case, nothing in the 

 way of colour-harmony seems to affright her ; she 

 dares all, and dares without fault or failure. 



We must now make for that farther green Col, 

 across this slope of thick Heather and Sphagnum ; 

 then we shall come in sight of our starting-point 

 down below, for we are working round in almost a 

 circle. Except for a few of the pale porcelain-blue 

 Campanula barbata, and an occasional specimen of 

 its white-blossomed form, there are few flowers 

 here. This slope will be perfect in Autumn, when 

 the Heather is out. For the moment we are 

 granted a pause in the feast of colour : one of 

 those healthy interludes so necessary for the repose 

 of attention and the avoidance of a sated interest. 

 But, evidently, fresh attractions are ahead of us. 

 These gay butterflies, complements of the flowers, 

 are not speeding for nothing in such hot haste 

 across this grey-green waste. 



We are once again in flowerland ; we are arrived 

 upon this second Col ! Small wonder that the 

 butterflies were in such a hurry ! The slaty, 

 ungenerous-looking ground to our left, covered 

 sparsely with a reticent growth of grass, is a 

 veritable garden. Here is a wellnigh infinite 



