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rden flowers only； the wild and the weeds even had always a fascination for him。
Here； indeed； we lay bare rudely； as a biographer may； a curious trait in him； to be accounted for； perhaps； by the fact that a certain grandmother of his had worn a smock and carried milkpails。 Some grains of the Kentish or Sussex earth were mixed with the thin； fine fluid which came to him from Normandy。 He held that the mixture of brown earth and blue blood was a good one。 Certain it is that he had always a liking for low pany； especially for that of lettered people whose wits so often keep them under； as if there were the sympathy of blood between them。 At this season of his life； when his head brimmed with rhymes and he never went to bed without striking off some conceit； the cheek of an innkeeper’s daughter seemed fresher and the wit of a gamekeeper’s niece seemed quicker than those of the ladies at Court。 Hence； he began going frequently to Wapping Old Stairs and the beer gardens at night； wrapped in a grey cloak to hide the star at his neck and the garter at his knee。 There； with a mug before him； among the sanded alleys and bowling greens and all the simple architecture of such places； he listened to sailors’ stories of hardship and horror and cruelty on the Spanish main； how some had lost their toes； others their noses—for the spoken story was never so rounded or so finely coloured as the written。 Especially he loved to hear them volley forth their songs of ‘the Azores； while the parrakeets； which they had brought from those parts； pecked at the rings in their ears； tapped with their hard acquisitive beaks at the rubies on their fingers； and swore as vilely as their masters。 The women were scarcely less bold in their speech and less free in their manner than the birds。 They perched on his knee； flung their arms round his neck and； guessing that something out of the mon lay hid beneath his duffle cloak； were quite as eager to e at the truth of the matter as Orlando himself。
Nor was opportunity lacking。 The river was astir early and late with barges； wherries； and craft of all description。 Every day sailed to sea some fine ship bound for the Indies； now and again another blackened and ragged with hairy men on board crept painfully to anchor。 No one missed a boy or girl if they dallied a little on the water after sunset； or raised an eyebrow if gossip had seen them sleeping soundly among the treasure sacks safe in each other’s arms。 Such indeed was the adventure that befel Orlando； Sukey； and the Earl of Cumberland。 The day was hot； their loves had been active； they had fallen asleep among the rubies。 Late that night the Earl； whose fortunes were much bound up in the Spanish ventures； came to check the booty alone with a lantern。 He flashed the light on a barrel。 He started back with an oath。 Twined about the cask two spirits lay sleeping。 Superstitious by nature； and his conscience laden with many a crime； the Earl took the couple—they were wrapped in a red cloak； and Sukey’s bosom was almost as white as the eternal snows of Orlando’s poetry—for a phantom sprung from the graves of drowned sailors to upbraid him。 He crossed himself。 He vowed repentance。 The row of alms houses still standing in the Sheen Road is the visible fruit of that moment’s panic。 Twelve poor old women of the parish today drink tea and tonight bless his Lordship for a roof above their heads； so that illicit love in a treasure ship—but we omit the moral。
Soon； however； Orlando grew tired； not only of the disfort of this way of life； and of the crabbed streets of the neighbourhood； but of the primitive manner of the people。 For it has to be remembered that crime and poverty had none of the attraction for the Elizabethans that they have for us。 They had none of our modern shame of book learning； none of our belief that to be born the son of a butcher is a blessing and to be unable to read a virtue； no fancy that what we call ‘life’ and ‘reality’ are somehow connected with ignorance and brutality； nor； indeed； any equivalent for these two words at all。 It was not to seek ‘life’ that Orlando went among them； not in quest of ‘reality’ that he left them。 But when he had heard a score of times how Jakes had lost his nose and Sukey her honour—and they told the stories admirably； it must be admitted—he began to be a little weary of the repetition； for a nose can only be cut off in one way and maidenhood lost in another—or so it seemed to him—whereas the arts and the sciences had a diversity about them which stirred his curiosity profoundly。 So； always keeping them in happy memory； he left off frequenting the beer gardens and the skittle alleys； hung his grey cloak in his wardrobe； let his star shine at his neck and his garter twinkle at his knee； and appeared once more at the Court of King James。 He was young； he was rich； he was handsome。 No one could have been received with greater acclamation than he was。
It is certain indeed that many ladies were ready to show him their favours。 The names of three at least were freely coupled with his in marriage—Clorinda； Favilla； Euphrosyne—so he called them in his sons。
To take them in order； Clorinda was a sweet–mannered gentle lady enough；—indeed Orlando was greatly taken with her for six months and a half； but she had white eyelashes and could not bear the sight of blood。 A hare brought up roasted at her father’s table turned her faint。 She was much under the influence of the Priests too； and stinted her underlinen in order to give to the poor。 She took it on her to reform Orlando of his sins； which sickened him； so that he drew back from the marriage； and did not much regret it when she died soon after of the small–pox。
Favilla； who es next； was of a different sort altogether。 She was the daughter of a poor Somersetshire gentleman； who； by sheer assiduity and the use of her eyes had worked her way up at court； where her address in horsemanship； her fine instep； and her grace in dancing won the admiration of all。 Once； however； she was so ill–advised as to whip a spaniel that had torn one of her silk stockings （and it must be said in justice that Favilla had few stockings and those for t