Some evenings later Peter was again a host holding sweet with his Lady. Here, first, are her words to him.  
“London,
 
“June 3rd.
 
“The day after to-morrow I shall be in my garden, in its beauty and in the perfume of my night-stocks. The of and theatres will be left behind in this big noisy London. It has its , though. This morning the streets were bathed in sunlight, and crowded with women in gay dresses till they looked like a great restless nosegay. We talk of ‘Spring in the country,’ but here its note is just as . In February the Parks were brilliant with crocuses, their little [Pg 89]yellow, white, and purple flowers spreading far under the trees. They were followed by daffodils and tulips, masses of glorious colour. And for sheer beauty give me a sunset across the Parks, or the blue mists veiling the great masses of building. Or, again, the river between sunset and night. Have you ever walked along the Embankment in the evening? I walked there yesterday. the river and sky flamed purple, , and gold; a silver covered land and water, with pale lights shining through and reflected in the river. A small boy walking with his mother exclaimed in , ‘Oh, mother, look at the lights!’ ‘What about them, dear?’ came the reply. The matter-of-fact tone of the words was indescribable. Thus is the early of poetry from the infant mind. I write of it lightly. At the moment indignation and tears struggled for the mastery.
 
“I read the following advertisement in a paper the other day:
 
“‘Wanted, a bright sympathetic woman, not necessarily under 25, as Companion-Help in a family of three. No children, no washing, but the ordinary work of the house to be done. [Pg 90]Must be educated, as she is wanted to be one of the family and help in philanthropic work. Will be needed to do plain cooking, and a “sense of humour” will be appreciated. Salary a matter of arrangement. Protestant.’
 
“Then followed the address. Doesn’t it strike you as rather funny? Can you imagine any one sitting down solemnly to answer it? Testimonials re a sense of humour!
 
“‘Dear Madam, in my former situations my sense of humour proved a great attraction. I enclose extracts from references. “Jane Smith is the soul of wit.” “Our Companion-Help kept us through meal-time in one perpetual roar of laughter.” “Laughter is the best digestive sauce. Jane Smith’s humour provides that sauce!”’
 
“I am glad you think I may at times discard my garment of tradition. Now I come to think of it, I believe I did discard it when I first wrote to you. I do not think at that moment the ancestral garment can have been upon me. Talking of that first letter, will you do me a favour? I want you to burn it. It was too solemn, too serious, written with altogether too heavy a pen. Something made me write it, and I am glad of it; [Pg 91]but I was so anxious to place myself above the possibility of a s............