in accordance with a routine that is also incidental?  We are not yet entitled to such a deduction.  It might be urged that these flowers, had these miraculous combinations not been, would not have survived, but would have had their place filled by others that stood in no need of crossed fertilisation; and the non-existence of the first would have been perceived by none, nor would the life that vibrates on the earth have seemed less incomprehensible to us, less diverse, or less astounding.

And yet it would be difficult not to admit that acts which bear all the appearance of acts of intelligence and prudence produce and support these fortunate chances.  Whence do they issue,—­from the being itself, or from the force whence that being draws life?  I will not say “it matters but little,” for, on the contrary, to know the answer were of supreme importance to us.  But, in the meantime, and till we shall learn whether it be the flower that endeavours to maintain and perfect the life that nature has placed within it, or whether it be nature that puts forth an effort to maintain and improve the degree of existence the flower has assumed, or finally whether it be chance that ultimately governs chance, a multitude of semblances invite us to believe that something equal to our loftiest thoughts issues at times from a common source, that we are compelled to admire without knowing where it resides.

There are moments when what seems error to us comes forth from this common source.  But, although we know very few things, proofs abound that the seeming error was in reality an act of prudence that we at first could not grasp.  In the little circle, even, that our eyes embrace we are constantly shown that what we regarded as nature’s blunder close by was due to her deeming it well to adjust the presumed inadvertence out yonder.  She has placed the three flowers we mentioned under conditions of such difficulty that they are unable to fertilise themselves; she considers it beneficial, therefore, for reasons beyond our powers of perception, that they should cause themselves to be fertilised by their neighbours; and, inasmuch as she enhances the intelligence of her victims, she displays on our right the genius she failed to display on our left.  The byways of this genius of hers remain incomprehensible to us, but its level is always the same.  It will appear to fall into error—­assuming that error be possible—­thereupon rising again at once in the organ charged to repair this error.  Turn where we may, it towers high over our heads.  It is the circular ocean, the tideless water, whereon our boldest and most independent thoughts will never be more than mere abject bubbles.  We call it Nature to-day; to-morrow, perhaps, we shall give it another name, softer or more alarming.  In the meanwhile it holds simultaneous, impartial sway over life and death; furnishing the two irreconcilable sisters with the magnificent and familiar weapons that adorn and distract its bosom.