278 BLUE FLOWERS THAT COME LATE 



never stopped talking until we were nearly through 

 the field and going into the woods. Then he 

 stooped down to pick up a little flower named 

 Large Purple Gerardia. 



I had seen it before, and Sallie had written me 

 about the Gerardias that grow near the sea, and 

 make the sandy meadows so lively looking when 

 Sundrops bloom beside them. The shape of these 

 flowers makes me think of Foxgloves, but, of 

 course, their color is pale purple instead of bright 

 yellow. They are like fat, little bells with five 

 scallops around their edges. They always hold 

 the big end up, however, and they drop off from 

 their stems very easily. The Gerardia plants have 

 many little branches, with leaves that are narrower 

 than grass. When I take them in my hand they 

 feel very stiff. 



Lucy wondered how these flowers could have 

 held on so tightly to the stems through all the 

 rain. The one we had picked and put in Tommy's 

 buttonhole had already fallen to the ground. 



" Before we go into the wood, I want to ask 

 you something," Tommy said to Lucy. " Have 

 you ever seen Blue Gentian? " 



" No," she answered. 



" Neither have I," he said, and walked on 

 whistling. 



" I think Old Adam's asleep," I said, when we 

 were in the wood. " Everything is so still." 



" I'll wake up the old rock," Tommy cried, and 



