‘Not I for certain;’--Come, I will attend; 240 So read the Revolutions to an end.’ “Finch, with a timid, strange, inquiring look, Softly and slowly laid aside the book With sigh inaudible----‘Come, never heed,’ Said he, recovering; ‘now I cannot read.’ “They walk’d at leisure through their wood and groves, In fields and lanes, and talk’d of plants and loves, And loves of plants.--Said Finch, ‘Augusta, dear, You said you loved to learn,--were you sincere? Do you remember that you told me once 250 How much you grieved, and said you were a dunce? That is, you wanted information. Say, What would you learn? I will direct your way.’ “‘Goodness!’ said she, ‘what meanings you discern In a few words! I said I wish’d to learn, And so I think I did; and you replied, The wish was good: what would you now beside? Did not you say it show’d an ardent mind; And pray what more do you expect to find?’ “‘My dear Augusta, could you wish indeed 260 For any knowledge, and not then proceed? That is not wishing----’ “‘Mercy! how you tease! You knew I said it with a view to please; A compliment to you, and quite enough-- You would not kill me with that puzzling stuff! Sure I might say I wish’d; but that is still Far from a promise: it is not,--‘I will.’ “‘But come, to show you that I will not hide My proper talents, you shall be my guide; And lady Boothby, when we meet, shall cry, 270 She’s quite as good a botanist as I.’ “‘Right, my Augusta;’ and, in manner grave, Finch his first lecture on the science gave; An introduction--and he said, ‘My dear, Your thought was happy--let us persevere; And let no trifling cause our work retard.’ Agreed the lady, but she fear’d it hard. “Now o’er the grounds they rambled many a mile; He show’d the flowers, the stamina, the style, Calix and corol, pericarp and fruit, 280 And all the plant produces, branch and root; Of these he treated, every varying shape, Till poor Augusta panted to escape. He show’d the various foliage plants produce, Lunate and lyrate, runcinate, retuse; Long were the learned words, and urged with force, Panduriform, pinnatifid, premorse, Latent, and patent, papulous, and plane-- ‘Oh!’ said the pupil, ‘it will turn my brain.’ ‘Fear not,’ he answer’d, and again, intent 290 To fill that mind, o’er class and order went; And stopping, ‘Now,’ said he, ‘my love, attend.’ ‘I do,’ said she, ‘but when will be an end?’-- ‘When we have made some progress--now begin, Which is the stigma, show me with the pin; Come, I have told you, dearest, let me see, Times very many--tell it now to me.’ “‘Stigma! I know,--the things with yellow heads,