ou if you don't
mind waiting. Will you take a chair?"

He was quite amazed by the dexterity with which those nimble fingers
took from one cluster and another cluster the very flowers he would
himself have chosen; and by the rapid fashion in which they were
dressed, fitted, and arranged. The work of art grew apace.

"But you must have something to break the white," said she, smiling, "or
it will look too like a bride's bouquet;" and with that--almost in the
twinkling of an eye--she had put a circular line of dark purple-blue
through the cream-white blossoms. It was a splendid rose that lay in the
midst of all that beauty.

"What price would you like to give, sir?" the gentle Phyllis had said at
the very outset. "Half a guinea--fifteen shillings?"

"Give me a beautiful rose," said he, "and I do not mind what the price
is."

And at last the lace-paper was put round; and a little further trimming
and setting took place; and finally the bouquet was swathed in soft
white wool and put into a basket.

"Shall I take the address?" said the young lady no doubt expecting that
he would write it on the back of one of his cards. But no. He dictated
the address, and then lay down the money. The astute young person was
puzzled--perhaps disappointed.

"Is there no message, sir?" said she--"no card?"

"No; but you must be sure to have it delivered to-night."

"It shall be sent off at once," said she, probably thinking that this
was a very foolish young man who did not know the ways of the world. The
only persons of whom she had any experience who sent bouquets without a
note or a letter were husbands, who were either making up a quarrel with
their wives or going to the opera, and she had observed that on such
occasions the difference between twelve-and-sixpence and fifteen
shillings was regarded and considered.

He slept but little that night; and next morning he got up nervous and
trembling, like a drunken man, with half the courage and confidence,
that had so long sustained him, gone. Major Stuart went out early. He
kept pacing about the room until the frightfully slow half-hours went
by; he hated the clock on the mantelpiece. And then, by a strong effort
of will, he delayed starting until he should barely have time to reach
her house by twelve o'clock, so that he should have the mad delight of
eagerly wishing the hansom had a still more furious speed. He had chosen
his horse well. It wanted five minutes to the appointed hou