nswered--

"Well I can't say which is the prettiest. You are both as pretty as you
need to be. If you were as good as you are pretty!"

Rose pouted, impatient of the laughter which this speech excited.

"I mean our wreaths. Look, mine is made of these dear little Scotch
roses, with here and there a moss-rose bud. Fanny's, you see, are all
open roses, white and damask. Now, which is the prettiest?"

She took her wreath from her head in her eagerness, and held it up,
admiringly.

"Yours ain't half so pretty as it was a minute ago. I think, now, I
should admire Mrs Elliott's most," said Mr Green, gravely.

They both curtseyed to him.

"You see, Rosie, Mr Green has decided in my favour," said Fanny,
triumphantly.

"Yes, but not in favour of your wreath. The others thought the same,
but I don't mind about that. It is our wreaths I want to know about.
Let us ask Graeme."

But Graeme did not come alone. The little Groves came with her, and
Will and Charlie followed, a rather noisy party. The little girls were
delighted, and danced about, exclaiming at the beauty of the flowery
crowns; and in a little, Miss Victoria was wearing that of Rose, and
imitating the airs and graces of her elder sister in a way that must
have encouraged her mother's hopes as to her ultimate success in life.
The other begged piteously for Fanny's, but she was too well aware of
its charming effect on her own head to yield at once to her entreaties,
and, in the midst of the laughing confusion that accompanied the
carrying of the child's point, Graeme and Mrs Snow, who confessed
herself a little tired after her walk, entered the summer-house again.
Mrs Grove and Mr Proudfute entered with them, and the others disposed,
themselves in groups about the door. Mr Green stood leaning on the
door-post looking in upon them.

"Miss Elliott," said Mr Proudfute, presently, "what has become of you
for a long time? I have hardly seen you for years--for a year at
least--and we used to meet so often." Graeme laughed.

"I have seen you a great many times within a year. I am afraid my
society doesn't make the impression on you it ought. Have you forgotten
your New Year's visit, and a visit or two besides, to say nothing of
chance meetings in the street and in the market?"

"Oh, but excuse me. I mean we have not met in society. You have been
making a hermit of yourself, which is not very kind or very
complimentary to your friends, I assure you