194 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES 



better of mankind ; but I was disappointed, even as 

 that dog of Thomson's, whose sad story is told in these 

 parts as a warning to the over-sanguine. He heard one 

 morning the sound of familiar footsteps approaching at 

 the hour of food. He said to himself, ^What jolly 

 dogs are we ! ' He rushed towards the door, jumping 

 and frisking, for he thought they were bringing him his 

 breakfast ; and . . . they took him out and hanged him. 



The suspense in both cases was extremely dis- 

 agreeable ; but I had this advantage, that mine was 

 too brief to be fatal. I had power to cut the knot, 

 and I exercised it by writing to our chief Rosarians 

 the simple question, ^Will you help me in establishing 

 a National Rose-Show?' Then were all my doubts 

 and disappointments dispelled, and the winter of my 

 discontent made glorious summer ; for the answers 

 which I received, as soon as mails could bring them, 

 might be summed up in one word, * Heartily.' The 

 three men, the triumviri, whose sympathy and aid I 

 most desired — Mr. Rivers, king of Rosists, Mr. 

 Charles Turner, prince of florists, and Mr. William 

 Paul, who was not only a successful writer upon the 

 Rose, but at that time presided, practically, over 

 the glorious Rose-fields of Cheshunt — promised to 

 work with me ; and the rest to whom I wrote (not 

 many at first, because too many captains spoil the 

 field-day, and too many huntsmen lose the fox) 



