A MYSTERIOUS SMELL 65 



redolent of it, just as it seemed peopled with the 



chirruping sounds of innumerable sparrows. What 



was it ? I consulted my fellow-passengers on the 



question as we strolled about the town, glad at being 



on firm land after thirty-one days at sea ; but though 



there were Englishmen in our party, no one could 



give me any information. They assured me that 



they did not perceive it, and didn't believe there was 



any such smell. I set them down as poor noseless 



creatures with wisdom at one entrance quite shut 



out. These voyaging companions soon drifted away, 



leaving only one of their company, an American, 



who said he had nothing to do except to see England, 



and so would stay with me until I had exhausted 



Southampton. We took long walks about the suburbs 



and over the neighbouring beautiful common, he 



always sticking to me, and still the strange agreeable 



smell attended me. Then we hired a trap and youth 



to drive, and went farther afield ; we were constantly 



shouting to our driver to tell us what that was. There 



were sights and sounds and smells in plenty all new 



to me. I was intoxicated with delight at listening 



to the skylark mounting up in the blue and pouring 



down his ecstatic music. My companion, whose mind 



was practical, cared for none of these things, but was 



curious about the state and system of agriculture. 



" What do you call that ? " he shouted, pointing to 



a field of red clover in flower as we flew past it. 



" Grass," said our Briton. " Yes, yes, but what 



kind of grass ? " " Grass — what the horses eat," 



he returned. " I only wish the horses had eaten your 



