CHAPTER XVIII 

 AUTUMNAL FORECAST 



ALWAYS know when a woman has 

 been in my dressing-room by the 

 slope of the mirror, and I also know 

 when a member of the same capti- 

 vating sex has been denuding the garden of flow- 

 ers. In October this would not be so very diffi- 

 cult of accomplishment were it not that in addi- 

 tion to roses there are still quantities of sweet- 

 peas with plenty of buds to follow. 



The Clematis Duchess of Albany has a quantity 

 of flowers on it and has shown a wonderful growth 

 and development ; but in my view this is worthy 

 of a better cause and I can not care for the plant, 

 notwithstanding the glowing terms in which I 

 sometimes see it described in catalogues. I find 

 I am unable to evoke any emotion in its behalf, 

 which perhaps is not surprising when I confess 

 to holding the opinion that the seat of the emo- 

 tions is below the diaphragm, whatever senti- 

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