APRIL 279 



the difference a little warm rain makes. The whole 

 garden looks so changed from when I went away, four or 

 five days ago ! 



I have in the entrance drive a large Balsam -bearing 

 Poplar — or Tacamahae tree, as I believe it to be cor- 

 rectly called. Mr. Loudon, in his 'Arboretum,' describes 

 it exactly. Every garden of a certain size would be the 

 better for having one of these trees, because of the ex- 

 quisite smell of the long catkins produced in April. If 

 one passes near the tree in showei-y weather, the air 

 reminds one of a greenhouse filled with Cape Jessamine 

 or Grardenia. The scent does not last very long, but 

 while it does I know nothing sweeter. 



April 5th. — Years ago I had the great pleasure of 

 going to D. Gr. Rossetti's studio. He was working at 

 the small replica of his beautiful big picture now at 

 Liverpool — Dante's dream — from the 'Vita Nuova.' In 

 the picture Love holds his hand and gives Beatrice — 

 dead — the kiss that Dante never gave her living. It is 

 a poem which can be interpreted in a hundred ways, 

 according to the mind and heart of those who look. To 

 most people I suppose it is the glorious interpretation of 

 a very common mental attitude — what we have not had 

 is to us what is most precious and most beautiful and 

 most lasting. When Rossetti ceased to be among us, 

 and with the memory of that afternoon at his studio 

 strong upon me, I went to his house in Cheyne Walk on 

 the 'private view' day before the sale. I tried to buy 

 one or two of his things, but they went at very high 

 prices, and I got nothing ; still I have always remem- 

 bered what struck me as a lovely and original firescreen. 

 I have had it copied several times, and it has given 

 pleasure to many; so I will describe it here, that it may 

 give pleasure to a few more. It was a little Chippen- 

 dale plain mahogany screen, consisting of three narrow 



