Page:The Life of William Morris.djvu/387

366 the designs which were produced by the students; he considered his time as having been wasted I believe. It is quite true about our red carpet having faded. W.M. is astonished at it. We had the cards down from the window to see the results of light and air upon the reds; they really have not much effect, but still a little; but the wools have been exposed to the light nearly a year, and had moreover to stand through all that strong sun of last year, as well as that of this year: no carpet is ever exposed so much to the light. The weld greens have gone, and W.M. is very lamentable over them. There are many secrets yet to be found out about dyeing. W.M. thinks that the Indian vat is the best for silks, and perhaps he will find out that it is the best for yarns; he intends setting one again soon. The blues (yarns) seemed to have stood a good deal, and W.M. is almost inclined now to say that they are the fastest of our dyes.

"25 June.The Heckmondwike Company sent up a woven pattern of the 3-ply green tulip carpet. W.M. called it dove-like, and so it is, the colours are very nice and well toned down. Bazin and a friend made their arrival in the afternoon; W.M. did not feel as if he wished to face Froggy at first, but said to G.W. (who went to receive the weaver) that he would be up in his room, if wanted; but G.W. did not wish to exercise his French alone, but took the two new arrivals up into W.M.'s room. The Frenchmen went round to Ormond Yard with W.M. and G.W. to see what cards we have (these are the cards which we had from Lyons). Froggy says they will do for his purpose, and we shall have to set him at work at once on the silk willow pattern, using these cards. He will take some time in setting up the loom, which will give us time to get silk and to dye it perhaps.