the Flowering of_the strange orchid

by H .G .Wells

the buying of orchids always has in_it a certain speculative flavour . you_have before_you the brown shrivelled lump of tissue, and for_the rest you_must trust your judgment, or the auctioneer, or your good luck, as_your taste may incline . the plant may_be moribund or dead, or it may_be just a respectable purchase, fair value for your money, or perhaps-- for_the thing has happened again and again-- there slowly unfolds before_the delighted eyes of_the happy purchaser, day after day, some new variety, some novel richness, a strange twist of_the labellum, or some subtler colouration or unexpected mimicry . pride, beauty, and profit blossom together on one delicate green spike, and, it may_be, even immortality . for_the new miracle of nature may stand in need of a new specific name, and what so convenient as_that of_its discoverer ? "John-smithia" ! there_have been worse names .

it_was perhaps the hope of some such happy discovery that made winter Wedderburn such a frequent attendant at_these sales-- that hope, and also, maybe, the fact that he had nothing else of_the slightest interest to_do in_the_world . he_was a shy, lonely, rather ineffectual man, provided with just enough income to_keep off the spur of necessity, and not enough nervous energy to_make him seek any exacting employments . he_might_have collected stamps or coins, or translated Horace, or bound books, or invented new species of diatoms . but, as it happened, he grew orchids, and had one ambitious little hothouse .

" I_have a fancy," he_said over his coffee, " that something is going to happen to_me to- day ." he spoke-- as he moved and thought-- slowly .

"Oh, don't say that ! " said his housekeeper-- who was also his remote cousin . for " something happening" was a euphemism that meant only one_thing to her .

" you misunderstand me .I mean nothing unpleasant .. . though what I_do mean I scarcely know .

" to- day," he continued, after a pause, "Peters' are going to_sell a batch of plants from_the Andamans and_the Indies . I_shall go up and_see what they_have . it may_be I_shall buy something good unawares . that_may_be it ."

he passed his cup for_his second cupful of coffee .

" are these the things collected by_that poor young fellow you told me of_the other day ? " asked his cousin, as she filled his cup .

" yes," he_said, and became meditative over a piece of toast .

" nothing ever does happen to_me," he remarked presently, beginning to_think aloud ."I wonder why ? things enough happen to other people . there_is Harvey . only the other week; on Monday he picked up sixpence, on Wednesday his chicks all had the staggers, on Friday his cousin came home from Australia, and on Saturday he broke his ankle . what a whirl of excitement ! -- compared to_me ."

" i_think i_would rather be without so_much excitement," said his housekeeper ." it can't be good for_you ."

"I suppose it's troublesome . still .. . you_see, nothing ever happens to_me . when i_was a little boy I never had accidents .I never fell in love as I grew up . never married .. .I wonder how it feels to_have something happen to_you, something really remarkable .

" that orchid- collector was only thirty-six--twenty years younger than myself-- when he died . and he had_been married twice and divorced once; he had had malarial fever four times, and once he broke his thigh . he killed a Malay once, and once he_was wounded by a poisoned dart . and in_the end he_was killed by jungle-leeches . it must_have all been very troublesome, but then it must_have been very interesting, you_know-- except, perhaps, the leeches ."

" I_am_sure it_was not good for him," said the lady with conviction .

" perhaps not ." and then Wedderburn looked at his watch ."Twenty- three minutes past eight . I_am going up by_the quarter to twelve train, so that_there_is plenty of_time . i_think I_shall wear my alpaca jacket-- it_is quite warm enough-- and my grey felt hat and brown shoes .I suppose--"

he glanced out_of_the window at_the serene sky and sunlit garden, and then nervously at his cousin's face .

" i_think you had better take an umbrella if_you_are going to London," she said in a voice that admitted of no denial ." there's all between here and_the station coming back ."

when he returned he_was in a state of mild excitement . he had made a purchase . it_was rare that he_could make up his mind quickly enough to_buy, but this_time he had done so .

" there_are Vandas," he_said, " and aDendrobe and some Palaeonophis ." he surveyed his purchases lovingly as he consumed his soup . they were laid out on_the spotless tablecloth before him, and he_was telling his cousin all about_them as he slowly meandered through his dinner . it_was his custom to live all his visits to London over again in_the evening for her and_his own entertainment .

" I_knew something would happen to- day . and I_have bought all these . some_of_them-- some_of_them-- I_feel_sure, do_you_know, that some_of_them will_be remarkable .I don't know how it_is, but I_feel just as sure as_if some one had told me that some_of_these will turn out remarkable .

" that one "-- he pointed to ashrivelled rhizome--" was not identified . it may_be aPalaeonophis-- or it may not . it may_be a new species, or even a new genus . and it was_the last that poor batten ever collected ."

"I don't like the look of it," said his housekeeper ." it's such an ugly shape ."

" to_me it scarcely seems to_have a shape ."

"I don't like those things that stick out," said his housekeeper .

" it shall be put away in a pot to- morrow ."

" it looks," said the housekeeper, " like a spider shamming dead ."

Wedderburn smiled and surveyed the root with_his head on one side ." it_is certainly not a pretty lump of stuff . but you_can never judge of_these things from their dry appearance . it may turn out to_be a very beautiful orchid indeed . how busy I_shall_be to- morrow ! I_must see to- night just exactly what to_do with_these things, and to- morrow I_shall set to work ."

" they found poor batten lying dead, or dying, in a mangrove swamp--I forget which," he began again presently, " with one_of_these very orchids crushed up under his body . he had_been unwell for some days with some kind of native fever, and I suppose he fainted . these mangrove swamps are very unwholesome . every drop of blood, they say, was taken out of him by_the jungle-leeches . it may_be that very plant that cost him his life to obtain ."

" i_think none the better of it for_that ."

" men must work though women may weep," said Wedderburn with profound gravity .

" fancy dying away from every comfort in a nasty swamp ! fancy being ill of fever with nothing to_take but chlorodyne and quinine-- if men were left to themselves they_would live on chlorodyne and quinine-- and no one round you but horrible natives ! they say the Andaman islanders are most disgusting wretches-- and, anyhow, they_can scarcely make good nurses, not having the necessary training . and just for people in England to_have orchids ! "

"I don't suppose it_was comfortable, but some men seem to enjoy that kind of thing," said Wedderburn ."Anyhow, the natives of_his party were sufficiently civilised to_take care of all his collection until his colleague, who was an ornithologist, came back again from_the interior; though they_could_not tell the species of_the orchid, and had let it wither . and it makes these things more interesting ."

" it makes them disgusting . i_should_be afraid of some_of_the malaria clinging to_them . and just think, there_has_been a dead body lying across that ugly thing ! I never thought of_that before . there ! I declare I_cannot eat another mouthful of dinner ."

" i_will take them off the table if_you like, and put them in_the window- seat . I_can_see them just as_well there ."

the next few_days he_was indeed singularly busy in_his steamy little hothouse, fussing about with charcoal, lumps of teak, moss, and all the other mysteries of_the orchid cultivator . he considered he_was having a wonderfully eventful time . in_the evening he_would talk about these new orchids to_his friends, and over and over again he reverted to_his expectation of something strange .

several of_the Vandas and_the Dendrobium died under his care, but presently the strange orchid began to show signs of life . he_was delighted, and took his housekeeper right away from jam-making to_see it at once, directly he_made the discovery .

" that_is a bud," he_said, " and presently there_will_be alot of leaves there, and those little things coming out here are aerial rootlets ."

" they look to_me like little white fingers poking out_of_the brown," said his housekeeper ."I don't like them ."

" why_not ? "

"I don't know . they look like fingers trying to_get at you . I_can't help my likes and dislikes ."

"I don't know for certain, but I don't think there_are any orchids I_know that_have aerial rootlets quite like that . it may_be my fancy, of_course . you_see they_are a little flattened at_the ends ."

"I don't like 'em," said his housekeeper, suddenly shivering and turning away ." I_know it's very silly of me-- and I'm very sorry, particularly as_you like the thing so_much . but I_can't help thinking of_that corpse ."

" but it may not be that particular plant . that was merely a guess of_mine ."

his housekeeper shrugged her shoulders ."Anyhow I don't like it," she said .

Wedderburn felt a little hurt at her dislike to_the plant . but that did_not prevent his talking to her about orchids generally, and this orchid in_particular, whenever he_felt inclined .

" there_are such queer things about orchids," he_said one day; " such possibilities of surprises . you_know, Darwin studied their fertilisation, and showed that_the whole structure of an ordinary orchid flower was contrived in_order_that moths might carry the pollen from plant to plant . well, it seems that_there_are lots of orchids known the flower of_which cannot possibly be used for fertilisation in_that way . some_of_the Cypripediums, for instance; there_are no insects known that_can possibly fertilise them, and some_of_them have never been found with seed ."

" but how do they form new plants ? "

" by runners and tubers, and_that kind of outgrowth . that_is easily explained . the puzzle is, what_are the flowers for ?

" very likely," he added, "_my orchid may_be something extraordinary in_that way . if_so I_shall study it . I_have often thought of making researches as Darwin did . but hitherto I_have_not found the time, or something else has happened to_prevent it . the leaves are beginning to unfold now . I_do wish you_would come and_see them ! "

but she said that_the orchid- house was so hot it gave her the headache . she had seen the plant once again, and_the aerial rootlets, which were now some_of_them more than a foot long, had unfortunately reminded her of tentacles reaching out after something; and_they got into her dreams, growing after her with incredible rapidity . so_that she had settled to her entire satisfaction that she_would not see that plant again, and Wedderburn had to admire its leaves alone . they were of_the ordinary broad form, and a deep glossy green, with splashes and dots of deep red towards the base he_knew of no other leaves quite like them . the plant was placed on a low bench near the thermometer, and close by was a simple arrangement by_which a tap dripped on_the hot- water pipes and kept the air steamy . and he spent his afternoons now with some regularity meditating on_the approaching flowering of_this strange plant .

and at last the great thing happened . directly he entered the little glass house he_knew that_the spike had burst out, although his great _Paloeonophis Lowii hid the corner where his new darling stood . there_was a new odour in_the air, a rich, intensely sweet scent, that overpowered every_other in_that crowded, steaming little greenhouse .

directly he noticed this he hurried down to_the strange orchid . and, behold ! the trailing green spikes bore now three great splashes of blossom, from_which this overpowering sweetness proceeded . he stopped before them in an ecstasy of admiration .

the flowers were white, with streaks of golden orange upon_the petals; the heavy labellum was coiled into an intricate projection, and a wonderful bluish purple mingled there with_the gold . he could_see at once that_the genus was altogether a new one . and_the insufferable scent ! how hot the place was ! the blossoms swam before his eyes .

he_would see if_the temperature was right . he_made a step towards the thermometer . suddenly everything appeared unsteady . the bricks on_the floor were dancing up and down . then the white blossoms, the green leaves behind them, the whole greenhouse, seemed to sweep sideways, and then in a curve upward .

* * * * *

at half- past four his cousin made the tea, according to_their invariable custom . but Wedderburn did_not come in for_his tea .

" he_is worshipping that horrid orchid," she told herself, and waited ten minutes ." his watch must_have stopped . i_will go and call him ."

she went straight to_the hothouse, and, opening the door, called his name . there_was no reply . she noticed that_the air was very close, and loaded with an intense perfume . then she saw something lying on_the bricks between_the hot- water pipes .

for a minute, perhaps, she stood motionless .

he_was lying, face upward, at_the foot of_the strange orchid . the tentacle- like aerial rootlets no longer swayed freely in_the air, but were crowded together, a tangle of grey ropes, and stretched tight, with their ends closely applied to_his chin and neck and hands .

she did_not understand . then she saw from under one_of_the exultant tentacles upon his cheek there trickled a little thread of blood .

with an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from_the leech- like suckers . she snapped two of_these tentacles, and their sap dripped red .

then the overpowering scent of_the blossom began to_make her head reel . how they clung to him ! she tore at_the tough ropes, and he and_the white inflorescence swam about her . she felt she was fainting, knew she_must not . she left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for a moment in_the fresh air, she had a brilliant inspiration . she caught up a flower- pot and smashed in_the windows at_the end of_the greenhouse . then she re- entered . she tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn's motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to_the floor . it still clung with_the grimmest tenacity to its victim . in a frenzy, she lugged it and him into_the open air .

then she thought of tearing through_the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from_the horror .

he_was white and bleeding from a dozen circular patches .

the odd- job man was coming up the garden, amazed at_the smashing of glass, and saw her emerge, hauling the inanimate body with red- stained hands . for a moment he thought impossible things .

" bring some water ! " she cried, and her voice dispelled his fancies . when, with unnatural alacrity, he returned with_the water, he_found her weeping with excitement, and with Wedderburn's head upon her knee, wiping the blood from_his face .

" what's the matter ? " said Wedderburn, opening his eyes feebly, and closing them again at once .

" go and tell Annie to_come out here to_me, and then go for Dr .Haddon at once," she said to_the odd- job man so soon as he brought the water; and added, seeing he hesitated, " i_will tell you all about_it when_you come back ."

presently Wedderburn opened his eyes again, and, seeing that he_was troubled by_the puzzle of_his position, she explained to him, " you fainted in_the hothouse ."

" and_the orchid ? "

" i_will_see to_that," she said .

Wedderburn had lost a good_deal of blood, but beyond that he had suffered no very great injury . they gave him brandy mixed with some pink extract of meat, and carried him upstairs to bed . his housekeeper told her incredible story in fragments to Dr .Haddon ." come to_the orchid- house and_see," she said .

the cold outer air was blowing in through_the open door, and_the sickly perfume was almost dispelled . most of_the torn aerial rootlets lay already withered amidst a number of dark stains upon_the bricks . the stem of_the inflorescence was broken by_the fall of_the plant, and_the flowers were growing limp and brown at_the edges of_the petals . the doctor stooped towards it, then saw that one_of_the aerial rootlets still stirred feebly, and hesitated .

the next morning the strange orchid still lay there, black now and putrescent . the door banged intermittently in_the morning breeze, and all the array of Wedderburn's orchids was shrivelled and prostrate . but Wedderburn himself was bright and garrulous upstairs in_the glory of_his strange adventure .