ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 



The bridge to the island 252 



Ciscoville 253 



The waiting ice-boat 253 



A winter conservatory 276 



The old well of St. Francis 276 



A water picture was revealed 277 



"Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them" . . . 286 



"But the children — that is another matter" 298 



The power to make things grow 298 



Weeding long beds of iris 299 



The helplessness and response of much loved flowers . . . 299 



Barbary figs at La Mortola 312 



The lodge has disappeared under a tangle of rose and wistaria — 



a Venice garden 312 



Landing at the island of the Sirdar 313 



Dom palms on the island of the Sirdar 313 



II 



