Moreover by a superhuman—­or anyhow a super-frail-feminine—­effort last Saturday as ever was I took up all that remained of the cabbage garden—­spread the heap of ashes, marked out another path by rule of line (not of thumb, as I planted those things you took up and set straight!), made my new walk, and edged it with the broken tiles that came off our roof when “the stormy winds did blow”—­an economy which pleased me much.  Thus I am now entirely flower-garden—­and with room for more flowers!!

Now to your kind offer.  I think it will take rather more than 50 bunches of primroses to complete the bank according to your plan—­though not 100.  Say 70:  but if there are a few bunches to spare I shall put them down that border where the laurels are, against the wall under the ivy.  They flower there, and other things don’t.

Now about the wild daffodils—­indeed I would like some!!!  I fear I should like enough to do this:  [Sketch.]

These be the Poets’ narcissus along the edge of the grass above the strawberry bank, and I don’t deny I think it would be nice to have a row of wild Daffys (where the red marks are) to precede the same narcissus next spring if we’re spared!  The Daffys to be planted in the grass of the grass-plat.

I doubt if less than two dozen clumps would ’do it handsome’!!!!!!!!

Now I want your good counsel.  This is my back garden:  [Sketch.]

Next to Slugs and Snails (to which I have recently added a specimen of)

     Puppy Dog’s Tails—­

my worst enemy is—­WIND!

The laurels are growing—­for that matter, Xmas is coming!—­but still we are very shelterless.  I think I would like to plant in Bed A, inter alia—­some shrubby things.  Now I know your views about moving shrubs are somewhat wider than those of the every-day gardener’s—­but do you think I dare plant a bush of lauristinus now?  It would have to travel a little way, I fancy.  There is no man actually in Taunton, I fear, with good shrubs.  I mean also to get some Japanese maples.  I think I would like a copper-coloured-leaved nut tree.  Are nuts hardy?  I fear Gum Cistus is coming into flower—­and unfit to move!  How about rhododendrons?  The soil here is said to suit them wonderfully.  I could not pretend to buy peat for them—­but I know hardy sorts will do in a firm fair soil, and I should like to plant a lilac one—­a crimson—­a blush—­and a white.  I think they would do fairly and shelter small fry.

Can I risk it now? and how about hardy azaleas—­things I love!  If you say—­we are too near summer sun for them to get established—­I must wait till Autumn.

How has Mrs. Going stood the biting winds?  Very unfavourable for one’s aches and pains?

Tell her I have got one of those rather queer yellow flowers you condescended to notice!—­to bring to her after Easter.

Is it not terrible about Prince Leopold?  That poor young wife—­and the Queen!  What bitter sorrow she has known; also I do regard the loss as a great one for the country, he was so enlightened and so desirous of use in his generation.