ting to a flower of that name.

"I am afraid I do not possess the necessary qualifications to form
an opinion," he said; "I have not studied botany."

"I think you would find the study very captivating," she said; "our
little island contains quite a number of beautiful specimens. There
are a great many hard names to learn, but I feel certain that you
would soon overcome that difficulty."

"You have a rather high opinion of my intellectual powers," he said;
"I feel quite flattered. For the present, I will abide by your
decisions. The flowers that you will praise, I shall call beautiful;
those that you will condemn, I shall call ugly."

"I shall not condemn any," said she, "all flowers are beautiful to
my eyes, only some are more perfect than others."

"You love flowers?" he questioned.

"Immensely, they are almost my constant companions; I should like
to possess the whole of this collection," said Adele.

"All to yourself. Is it not a trifle selfish?" he said, looking at
her with a pair of laughing blue eyes.

"Perhaps it is. Look at this beautiful collection of ferns." She
began to name them. "This one on the left is _Adiantum Capillus
Veneris_, or _Maiden Hair_, a rare European species; this one is
_Adiantum Pedantum_, of American origin, and that one behind there,
which is partly hidden, is _Adiantum Cuneatum_."

"I will not learn botany," he said; "you have quite frightened me
with all those Latin names; when I wish to know the name of some
plant, I shall come and ask you."

"I shall be delighted if I can be of any service to you," she said
ingenuously. Frank thought these words were significant, but they
were not.

Adele was anxious to get home early. Frank saw "Les Marches" that
evening with hopeful eyes.

Afterwards, they often met. One day, Tom Soher, who was now
completely cured, came face to face with his cousin Adele, who was
accompanied by Frank. He stopped short, looked hard at his cousin,
then resumed his walk.

When Tom was a little way off, Frank said to Adele: "What a queer
fellow, one would think he was insane." "He is a cousin of mine,"
she said.

"Ah! doubtless he was surprised at seeing you in such company."

"Why?" she questioned.

"Perhaps he is afraid of losing caste," said Frank, anxious to know
the cause of Tom's sullen countenance.

Adele laughed; "Losing caste!" she said, "the idea is preposterous."

"Miss Rougeant," said Frank, suddenly becoming grave, "do you want
to