108 OUTDOOR STUDIES 
or water-platter, they call the accommodating 
plant. But even these expanding leaves are 
not the glory of the Victoria; the glory is in 
the opening of the flower. 
I have sometimes looked in, for a passing 
moment, at the greenhouse, its dwelling-place, 
during the period of flowering, — and then 
stayed for more than an hour, unable to leave 
the fascinating scene. After the strange flower- 
bud has reared its dark head from the placid 
tank, moving a little, uneasily, like some impris- 
oned water-creature, it pauses for a moment in 
a sort of dumb despair. Then, trembling again, 
and collecting all its powers, it thrusts open, 
with an indignant jerk, the rough calyx-leaves ; 
and the beautiful disrobing begins. The firm, 
white, central cone, once so closely infolded, 
quivers a little, and swiftly, before your eyes, 
the first of the hundred petals detaches its deli- 
cate edges, and springs back, opening towards 
the water, while its white reflection opens to 
meet it from below. Many moments of repose 
follow, — you watch, — another petal trembles, 
detaches, springs open, and is still, Then an- 
other, and another, and another. Each move- 
ment is so quiet, yet so emphatic, so living, so 
human, that the radiant creature seems a Musi- 
dora of the water, and you almost blush with a 
sense of guilt, in gazing on that peerless pri- 
