第16部分(第2/7 頁)

I　care　for　are　the　quite　old…fashioned　roses；　sunflowers；　hollyhocks；　lilies　and　so　on；　and　these　I　like　to　see　growing　as　much　as　possible　as　if　they　were　wild。　Trim　and　symmetrical　beds　are　my　abhorrence；　and　most　of　the　flowers　which　are　put　into　them……hybrids　e……Jonesia；　Snooksia……hurt　my　eyes。　On　the　other　hand；　a　garden　is　a　garden；　and　I　would　not　try　to　introduce　into　it　the　flowers　which　are　my　solace　in　lanes　and　fields。　Foxgloves；　for　instance……it　would　pain　me　to　see　them　thus　transplanted。

I　think　of　foxgloves；　for　it　is　the　moment　of　their　glory。　Yesterday　I　went　to　the　lane　which　I　visit　every　year　at　this　time；　the　deep；　rutty　cart…track；　descending　between　banks　covered　with　giant　fronds　of　the　polypodium；　and　overhung　with　wych…elm　and　hazel；　to　that　cool；　grassy　nook　where　the　noble　flowers　hang　on　stems　all　but　of　my　own　height。　Nowhere　have　I　seen　finer　foxgloves。　I　suppose　they　rejoice　me　so　because　of　early　memories……　to　a　child　it　is　the　most　impressive　of　wild　flowers；　I　would　walk　miles　any　day　to　see　a　fine　cluster；　as　I　would　to　see　the　shining　of　purple　loosestrife　by　the　water　edge；　or　white　lilies　floating　upon　the　still　depth。

But　the　gardener　and　I　understand　each　other　as　soon　as　we　go　to　the　back　of　the　house；　and　get　among　the　vegetables。　On　that　ground　he　finds　me　perfectly　sane。　And　indeed　I　am　not　sure　that　the　kitchen　garden　does　not　give　me　more　pleasure　than　the　domain　of　flowers。　Every　morning　I　step　round　before　breakfast　to　see　how　things　are　〃ing　on。〃　It　is　happiness　to　note　the　swelling　of　pods；　the　healthy　vigour　of　potato　plants；　aye；　even　the　shooting　up　of　radishes　and　cress。　This　year　I　have　a　grove　of　Jerusalem　artichokes；　they　are　seven　or　eight　feet　high；　and　I　seem　to　get　vigour　as　I　look　at　the　stems