194 A GARDEN DIARY 
MAFEKING-DAY, 1900 
Ie is the nineteenth of May. S. S. has re- 
turned, and the east wind which has long 
been vexing our souls has departed for the 
moment, and a soft caressing zephyr blows 
seductively. The garden, comforted by recent 
showers, is smiling one broad smile from the red 
steps at the top of it to the new pergola at the 
bottom. And now this morning comes the news 
of the Relief of Mafeking. Joy for the victors ; 
joy for the nation ; joy for everything and every- 
body. Flags flutter from all the posts; the dogs 
strut about in new tricolor rosettes; “the air 
breaks into a mist with bells.” All this is well, 
very well. Only; only. A few lines coming by 
the same post, a single short note, and for one 
"person that May sunshine is blotted out as effec- 
tually as though the very orb itself had perished. 
The garden with all its flowers; the copse sur- 
rounding it, new clad in gala attire; the whole 
cheerful little picture has become darkened ; its 
atmosphere changed ; its pleasant anticipations 
