354 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



'Tis the first gurgle of a purr ; you were a cat once, away in the 

 ages, and this is a part of the remains. . . . 



But tell me, why does a dog when he is going to lie down 

 before the fire always first make two complete turns, as if he was 

 looking after his tail, before he is content to lie down ? There's 

 a poser for , but " Enid " shall give you a solution : " Be- 

 cause one good turn deserves another ;" and if that be not a 

 reason, I don't know what is. 



It never occurred to me that there was a connection between 

 Aunt Sally and the old doll, but perhaps there is. " There is a 

 river in Macedon, and another in Monmouth, and salmon in 

 both," which is a case in point. I did not think Mother Carey's 

 doll was a doll, but a memory of something else, but I don't say 

 what : as Kingsley says, there is lots without meaning at all, 

 which I don't believe. He is talking parables from first to last, 

 if ever man did, and if you don't catch his meaning, or a 

 meaning from them, why should he explain ? Don't wonder at 

 his reticence, he would be perhaps convicted of heresy if he did, 

 and his books put in the Index. But I still aver it is the most 

 charming romance of purgatory ever written, and I would I were a 

 Water Baby if I were a Tom, but not if I were an Ellie, But 

 if I followed on this train, I know the powder-mill into which it 

 would lead me ; so instead of doing it I will say " good-night," 

 and go to bed, intending to be up at my " Senecio "' (sweeping 

 its chimney) by cock-crow. 



W. H. H. 



To Mrs. F. 



Hotel de l'Union, St. Servan, 

 September 12th, 1864. 



I am sorry to say we shall be obliged to leave this resting- 

 place in a week, which we greatly regret, as it has everything 

 to recommend it for dawdling. I could stay here with pleasure 

 a whole summer and write " Flora Capensis !" What more can be 

 said ? Our good landlady, Madame C, has much Irish hearti- 

 ness, kindness, and cheerfulness ; and thoughtfully ministers to 

 us in little things, but is never intrusive. The housemaid and 

 cook wear the curious old-fashioned head-dress of the country. On 

 them it is very becoming, and so snowy white and stiff at all hours. 

 Marie, the housemaid, has a radiant face, which looks as if she 

 1 A germs of plants. 



