I "too-too"
gratefully accept her further kind offers. I deeply desire some
"Ladders to Heaven"--(does she know that old name for Lilies of the
Valley?)--and I am devoted to pansies and have only a scrap or two. A
neighbour _has_ given me a few Myosotis--but I am a daughter of the
horse-leech I fear where flowers are concerned, and if you really have
one or two TO SPARE I thankfully accept. The truly Irish
liberality of Mrs. Going's suggestions--emboldens me to ask if you
happen to have in your garden any of the Hellebores? I have one good
clump of Xmas Rose--but I have none of those green-faced varieties for
which I have a peculiar predilection.

(I do not expect much sympathy from you! In fact I fear you will think
that any one whose taste is so grotesque as to have a devotion for
Polyanthuses--Oxlips--Green Hellebores--every variety of Arum (including
the "stinking" one!)--Dog's-tooth violets--Irises--Auriculas--coloured
primroses--and such dingy and undeveloped denizens of the flower
garden--is hardly worthy to possess the glowing colours and last results
of development in the Queen of flowers!)

But I DO appreciate roses I assure you.

And I am most deeply grateful to you for letting me benefit by--what
is in itself such a treat! your--enthusiasm.

Mrs. Going seems to think that my soil and situation are better than
yours.

Could it be possible that you might have any rose under development
that you would care to deposit here for the winter and fetch away in
the spring? I don't know if change of air and soil is ever good for
them?

I fear you'll think mine a barren little patch on which to expend your
kindness! But you are a true _Ama_--teur--and will look at my Villa
Garden through _rose_-coloured spectacles!

Yours gratefully, J.H.E.

TO MRS. JELF,

October 19, 1883.

DEAREST MARNY,

* * * * *

One bit more of egotism before I stop!

You know how I love my bit of garden!--An admirer--specially of
"Laetus"--whom I had never seen--an Irishman--and a Dorsetshire
Parson. (But who had worked for over twenty years in the slums of
London--which it is supposed only the Salvation Army venture to
touch!)--

--arrived here last Saturday with nineteen magnificent climbing roses,
and has covered two sides of my house and the south wall of my
garden!--but one sunny corner has been kept sacred to Aunty's
Passion-flower, which is doing well--and one for a rose Mrs. Walkinsh