LADY MOSS-GREEN. 69 



styles. What an admirable pattern for an elec- 

 trolier! Not far away "Wias Erodium, a near 

 relation, who had given a few extra twists to 

 the styles, elaborating the pattern. 



Indeed, it is common report that the best 

 architects and artists, to say nothing of deco- 

 raters of interiors, are in the habit of frequent- 

 ing the receptions of Lady Moss-Green for the 

 express purpose of getting ideas for new styles. 



I know not how it is with the mech£|,nic, but 

 of a truth Phryma leptostachya is a wonder to 

 me. At first I said, ' ' She is an arrant coquette ; 

 see how she draws her treasures to her side, 

 holding them there till she chooses to dispense 

 them ; then, her purpose ripe, she flings them on 

 the winds, holding out her empty hands and 

 laughing in your face. ' ' 



Or, is she an economist, appearing to with- 

 draw her stores only that she may the more 

 widely dispense them, seeding for harvest? 



Certainly she is an example of a natural 

 sling; consider for a moment the unsolved 

 motive force in that little flower. 



The family of Cruciferae is well repre^sented 

 in the estate of my Lady, and its members are 

 worthy of the favor with which man regards 

 them. How bountiful their stores of pungent 

 seeds ! And here is one of the Capparidaceae 

 family, Cleome pungens, a brilliant, gracious 



