yself."

"Couldn't you stay and sleep there?"

"I will ask mamma. No, I'm afraid it can hardly be managed;" and
so saying, Mary leant back in her chair and began to pull to
pieces some flowers she held in her hand.

"Don't pull them to pieces; give them to me," said Tom. "I have
kept the rosebud you gave me at Oxford folded up in"--

"Which you took, you mean to say. No, I won't give you any of
them--or, let me see--yes, here is a sprig of lavender; you may
have that."

"Thank you. But, why lavender?"

"Lavender stands for sincerity. It will remind you of the lecture
you gave me."

"I wish you would forget that. But you know what flowers mean,
then? Do give me a lecture; you owe me one. What do those flowers
mean which you will not give me,--the piece of heather for
instance?"

"Heather signifies constancy."

"And the carnations?"

"Jealousy."

"And the heliotrope?"

"Oh, never mind the heliotrope."

"But it is such a favorite of mine. Do tell me what it means?"

"_Je vous aime_," said Mary with a laugh, and a slight blush; "it
is all nonsense. Oh, here's mamma at last," and she jumped up and
went to meet her mother, who came out of the drawing-room, candle
in hand.

"My dear Mary, I thought you were gone to bed," said Mrs. Porter,
looking from one to the other seriously.

"Oh, I'm not the least tired, and I couldn't go without wishing
you and papa good night, and thanking you for all the trouble you
have taken."

"Indeed we ought all to thank you," said Tom; "everybody said it
was the pleasantest party they had ever been at."

"I am very glad it went off so well," said Mrs. Porter, gravely;
"and now, Mary, you must go to bed."

"I am afraid I must leave you to-morrow morning," said Tom.

"Yes; Mrs. Brown said they expect you at home tomorrow."

"I am to ride round by Uncle Robert's; would you like one of the
boys to go with me?"

"Oh, dear mamma, could not Charley and I ride over to Englebourn?
I do so long to see Katie."

"No, dear; it is much too far for you. We will drive over in a
few days' time."

And so saying, Mrs. Porter wished Tom good night, and led off her
daughter.

Tom went slowly up stairs to his room, and, after packing his
portmanteau for the carrier to take in the morning, threw up his
window and leant out into the night, and watched the light clouds
swimming over the moon, and the silver mist folding the
water-meadows and willows in its soft cool mantle. His thoug