grew apace, and, before long, flowers 

 were grown to deck the altar, and 

 none more lovingly than "the lady 

 lily looking gently down." 



At first, in these troublous times, 

 the castles and fortresses of war-lords 

 were built for defence, and in places 

 as inaccessible as possible. In these 

 crowded courtyards was no room for 

 posies ; hardly a blade of grass dared 

 show its head between the stones. 

 But, by and by, times grew less fierce, 

 and then gardens were planted with- 

 out the walls, for food plants only, it is 

 true, but gradually including my lady's 

 bed of flowers, when it became safe to 

 cultivate them. So, for a second time 

 the sweet white lily crossed the Alps. 



Under the great head " lily " are 

 classed many plants which do not 

 strictly belong to this family, and 

 among them are the amaryllis flow- 

 ers, many of them of gorgeous hues. 

 73 



