Harvesting the Hedges 
posies, and old folks and apparent sweethearts. We could 
not make them up quick enough, our sprays and button- 
holes. Three little girls came together, late in the evening, 
when they hoped to find things cheaper, “ It’s aye the time 
for bargains,” I heard one say, and she asked for a penny 
plant. We had a few very cheap ones, and I provided her 
with one. “ But I want tway ! ” (two) she said in a little 
shrill high-pitched voice. I found another, and it then 
appeared she wished to treat her companions. Maggie and 
Bella politely demurred, but the small fishermaid was 
resolute ; the coppers, smelling strongly of fish, were duly 
extracted from a large leather purse, and the three little 
maids went off, proudly hugging each a small pot-plant, two 
Aloes, I think, and a Lobelia, for the millionaire treated 
herself into the bargain ! An old woman fell in love with 
a Mandarin Orange-tree, one of a number — four, I think — 
reared expressly for the bazaar by Boy. Pips had been 
planted and watched, and although a watched pot is pro- 
verbially slow to boil, two tiny green twin-leaves at last 
appeared. These, promoted to tiny pots, and decorated 
with large cards setting forth their history and antecedents, 
all sold well, much to Master Redcap’s ultimate satisfaction. 
But the Aloe had its moment of triumph when a gay maiden 
refused to buy any flowers of me, alleging she had to cycle 
home and could never carry a plant on a cycle safe home. 
“ Well,” said I, “ if I produce a plant which will stand such 
a journey, you will buy it ? ” She promised, and before her 
wondering eyes I took a small Aloe out of its pot and 
packed it up in a brown-paper parcel ready for tying to her 
handlebar, and told her how said Aloe had arrived in a like 
parcel from the South of France. Gerarde chronicles an 
old, old custom in his day, of hanging Aloes from the ceilings 
of sitting-rooms, as curiosities, apparently. We should have 
decorated the flower-stall in this way. 
October 5. — After several miserable days of rain and winds, 
which have brought down the yellowing leaves in thousands 
all over the policies and parks, we have at last a beautiful 
day, clear and cold, with lovely blue and yellow hills in the 
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