258 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES 



parson ' ; and so sure was this clique of success, that 

 they brought a couple of bottles of wine to the show, 

 to be quaffed from the cup, which I won easily. In 

 the afternoon I happened to come upon the con- 

 spirators drinking their port in a quiet corner of 

 the grounds, and one of them not only invited me 

 to partake, but, as from a sudden impulse, and as 

 though the truth must come out with the wine, in vino 

 Veritas^ to my intense amusement, and to the still 

 more intense amazement of his friends, revealed all 

 the history of their little game. He declared that he 

 was thoroughly ashamed of ^ the job,' and was heartily 

 glad they were beat. Truly it was a strange con- 

 fession, but I believe the penitence was sincere. 



The Despondent Exhibitor is also an exceptional, 

 , but by no means discreditable, variety. He is physi- 

 cally incapable of festive emotions — ^ a sad, gloom- 

 pampered man,' but a good Rosarian, and a righteous. 

 If a cloud crosses the sun, he shuts up like a Gazania 

 or a Crocus ; if a few drops of rain fall, he hangs his 

 head like Virgil's Poppies, — 



^ Lassove papavera collo, 

 Demisere caput, pluvia quum forte gravantur.' 



He never has the slightest expectation of a prize. He 

 has had more caterpillars, aphides, blights, beetles, 

 and mildews in his garden than ever were seen by 



