after my experiences with the violets. A narrow border near a little
wall, but on which the sun did not flare continuously, and there we
prepared the ground, though it seemed pretty good on its own account
for a wonder; and the hundred fibrous roots were carefully spread out
and covered over. I thought of young "Sandhurst." If I give him lilies
of the valley for a button-hole he will think the garden is indeed
growing. Though if the lilies should fail! But why should they? Griggs
did not touch them.
* * * * *
Jim said,
"You are a fraud, Mary, that's what you are."
My thoughts flew to suggestions given for an essay on "The Heroic
Qualities" which Jim and I had discussed with much energy. But it was
not that.
"No, it was pretty footling, that essay, anyway; but the other fellows
did just as badly. You promised me a go at tap-roots, and even old
Griggs says we can't tackle them now. He says he thinks there are
probably jolly long ones, and I do think you might have thought of it
in time."
"I have been so busy, Jim, and it isn't my department proper. Let us
bike over and ask the Master if it is too late. Griggs doesn't really
know; he generally repeats what I tell him."
"He knows enough not to do things, does Griggs. I have found that out.
He is a champion skulker."
Jim was very despondent, but a good spin along the hard road, with the
bright sun that late autumn sometimes sees, raised his spirits.
The Master was in his garden, and oh! how neat and brushed up and
ready for its sleeping-time looked his garden. Not empty or dead,
but intentionally tucked up and ready for the snowy counterpane, and
protected from the biting blast.
It was late, he said, but the weather still held up; we might try
taking up one at a time and replacing it so that it should not take
cold.
Jim took the directions with great attention.
"I am going to boss this, Mary; you said it wasn't your department."
The way he worked and ordered about Griggs and the coachman, summoned
to give his unwilling help, promised well for his future as an admiral.
The whole roots of the young pear tree were dug up with the greatest
care; the tap-root, there it was sure enough, and all the vitality of
the tree going gaily to swell its dimensions, was cut away, and then
it was raised into a well-doctored hole, with a broad slab-like stone
under it to cut short any further aspirations after such a root again,
and all other branch roots carefully spread out to encourage growth and
general productiveness.
Jim worked himself and his men, and also the Young Man, hard; I was
an admiring onlooker until the operation was finished and the tree
standing up quite firm again. Then, as Jim was bent on yet another,
and refused to think it too late, I wandered down my lime-tree walk,
where snowdrops were now hidden. I had collected ferns there and more
primroses, and clumps of foxgloves on the sunniest side, just where
they would catch the eye from the garden.
A feeling of peace was in the air; one bird dropped a note and another
caught it up; not a ringing challenge of song, but a pleasant exchange
of compliments. "Going strong?" "Oh, rather!" "Berries look well."
"Prime!" "Good old world!" A squirrel frisked past up a tree with a
look down at me, saying, "Ah! don't you wish you could do it!" and then
off he went, terribly busy with his nut store. He and Griggs had had
a race over the small walnuts which adorned one tree, and I think the
squirrel could account for the better part. It was all right, all in
order, this going to sleep time, this baring of boughs, decaying of
vegetation, this "season of mists." A little while, only a little while
and the change would begin; after sleep would come the great awakening.
I picked a brown bud from the chestnut tree and cut it in half with
my knife. There was the promise, the great life spirit already at
work. Cushioned in the centre the embryo of the spiral-shaped bloom
for May was to be plainly seen. The spring was preparing right through
the winter. I heard Jim's voice, cheery and ringing, "Now then, you
fellows, heave away! Oh, I say, Young Man, don't scoot just yet."
Steps rustled behind me, and as he joined me we walked on under the
lime trees and I tried to talk of my garden, but he did not appear
responsive; and finally, when I could walk no further, for I was wedged
in the swing gate that opened on to the field he blocked the opening
and said,
"I don't the least want to talk of the garden."
"Well, talk of this," I said, and gave him the chestnut twig I had
broken off; "it is full of meaning."
"It is very bare and dead-looking."
"No. It is really full of life and hope. See its wonderful centre.
There, I will open one to give you a parable from Nature. We need hope
at this time of the year."
"I have been hoping so long," he would not be put off, "perhaps I am
tired of mere hoping. I want to progress."
"Try faith then," I suggested.
His eyes held mine.
"There is one thing better than faith, you know." I suppose the wind
was cold. I gave a little shiver and he placed his hand over mine.
Then I said, "I think faith ought to have its turn."
"What is faith in this instance?"
"Waiting, I should think," I answered slowly.
"But waiting with a knowledge of--"
"Ah! I must teach you another parable, I see. When the seed is sown in
the ground we have to wait for it to spring up; it has to grow, to
grow underground quite a long while before it comes to the light. It is
not good to uncover it before it naturally springs up."
"Can I be sure the seed is there?" he asked eagerly.
"Some seeds take longer than others too, don't they?" I answered
evasively. "The annuals come up quite quickly, but perennials are much
slower. I prefer perennials, don't you?"
"I will wait."
"The winter is such a good time for waiting," I remarked cheerfully.
"If faith be added to hope is the next step sure?" he questioned.
"Don't you know we cannot hurry the seasons. It is no good. If you are
in winter, in the faith time, why, be content."
"Yes, spring will come, I will wait," he said again, and I too knew
that spring would come.
I loosened my hand gently and we walked back under the bared boughs of
the lime trees, a tangle of grass, weeds and ferns, and a rustling of
brown fallen leaves at our feet. A hush as of going to sleep was in
the air, and a robin from a full throat seemed to assure us that each
season in its turn is good, and that spring never quite leaves the
earth.
INDEX
ACONITE, Winter, 29
Anemones, 10, 173, 235;
--Japanese, 186, 195, 233
Annuals, 54, 66, 113
Antirrhinums, 54, 57, 101, 131, 132, 179, 181, 238
Asters, perennial, 195, 197
BEGONIAS, 184
Biennials, 102
Bleeding Heart, 183, 232, 235
CALCEOLARIAS, 4, 183
Campanulas, 53, 106, 183, 212, 234
Canariensis, 55, 105, 187
Canterbury-Bells, 53, 56, 105, 164, 183, 185, 212, 222, 235
Christmas Roses, 47, 218, 219
Chrysanthemums, annual, 55, 113;
--perennial, 7, 144, 196, 234
Clematis, 35;
--Flamulata, 37, 217;
--Montana, 214
Coleus, 184
Columbines, 57, 106, 183, 235
Convolvulus, 55, 105, 187
Coreopsis, 235
Cornflowers, 66, 150, 171
Creeping Jenny, 179
Crocuses, 19, 62
Crown Imperials, 235
DAFFODILS, 20, 28, 52, 71
Dahlias, 7, 145, 233;
--Cactus, 195, 221
Daisies, autumn, 81, 233;
--white, 55, 150, 181;
--yellow, 181
Delphiniums, 54, 84, 147, 182, 211, 232
Doronicum, 81, 183, 231, 235
Dressing for rose roots, 103
ESCHSCHOLTZIA, 57, 177
Elder-tree, 121
FEATHERFEW, 184
Ferns, 72, 248
Forget-me-nots, 104, 130, 164, 213, 219, 220
Foxgloves, 72, 106, 222, 232
Fruit-trees, 108, 247
Fuchsias, 184
GAILLARDIAS, 53, 84, 106, 183, 234
Galega, 86, 182, 233
Geraniums, 4, 143, 180, 221;
--Henry Jacoby, 181, 238
Geums, 183, 196, 235
Gladiolas, 54, 183, 212, 235
Godetias, 66, 113, 150, 171
Golden Rod, 81, 197, 233
Green fly, 118, 120
Ground-elder, 110, 148
Gypsophila, 57, 180
HARDY ANNUALS, 175
Hellebore, 38, 47, 218
Hollyhocks, 54, 147, 182, 195, 233
Honeysuckle, 151, 216
Hyacinths, 18, 238
INDIAN-PEA, _see_ Galega
Irises; English, 212;
--German, 111, 183, 233;
--Spanish, 212, 235
Ixias, 183
JAPANESE ROSE, 121
Jasmine, white, 35;
--yellow, 32, 34, 37, 219
_KERRIA JAPONICA_, 121
LARKSPUR, 54, 84
Laurel, 120
Lavender, 236
Leopard's Bane, 81
Lilies, 81, 111, 182;
--Auratum, 212;
--Croceum,212;
--Madonna, 212, 232;
--Tiger, 182, 232
Lily-of-the-Valley, 244
Lobelia, 57, 101, 181, 238
London Pride, 81, 231
Lupins, 147, 186, 222, 232
MARGUERITES, 55, 59, 141, 181, 238
Marigolds, 55, 101, 141, 183, 197
Mignonette, 55, 56, 173
Montbresias, 54, 183, 212, 235
NARCISSI, 72, 212, 243
Nasturtium, 55, 56, 101, 105, 187
Nicotina, 161
'OLD MAN'S BEARD,' 37
PANSIES, 53
Papaver, _see_ Poppy
Penstemons, 57, 84, 106, 183, 196, 234, 238
Peonies, 243
Perennials, 106
Pergola, 204, 210
Phlox, 54, 82, 88, 183, 195, 233;
--annual, 176
Plantains, 22, 239
Polyanthus, 53, 57, 100, 106, 132, 224, 231
Poppies, Californian, 57, 177;
--Iceland, 57, 147, 196, 235;
--Oriental, 106, 211, 234;
--Shirley, 57, 66, 113, 150, 171
Primroses, 72, 248
ROCKET, 236
Roses, 74;
--Crimson Rambler, 74, 128, 214;
--Gloire de Dijon, 74, 129, 187, 213;
--Reine Marie Hortense, 74, 128;
--William Allen Richardson, 74, 128, 214;
--cutting, 77;
--Suckers, 79
Rudbeckias, 195
SAINT-FOIN, 151
Salpiglosis, 57, 175
Salvias, 184
Scabious, 57, 142, 183
Scillas, 28, 40, 51
Sea-holly, 236
Silene, 105, 164, 213
Snapdragons, _see_ Antirrhinums
Snowdrops, 28, 40, 51
Solomon's Seal, 235
Spiræa, 82, 233
Stocks, 53, 57, 106, 143, 183
Sunflowers, 56, 105, 182, 194, 196, 211, 233;
--Rigidus, 233;
--Soleil d'Or, 233
Sweet Peas, 56, 65, 107, 150, 174, 193
Sweet-William, 53, 56, 105, 164, 183, 185, 212, 222, 235
Syringa, 121
TAGETES, 55, 57, 101, 142
Thinning plants, 113, 163
Thistle, purple, 196, 236
Tritoma, 85, 236
Tritonia, 165
Tropoeolum, 55
Tulips, 81, 130, 132, 212, 220, 238
Turk's Head, 183, 185, 235
VALERIAN, 182, 185, 232
Verbena, 57
Viola, 53, 57, 60, 131, 238
Violets, 76, 80, 220
Virginian Creeper, 213
WALL-FLOWER, 53, 105, 164, 212, 220
Wisteria, 214
ZINNIA, 56, 57, 183, 221
THE END