Bride Roses

BOSTON AND NEW YORK Houghton, Mifflin and Company MDCCCC COPYRIGHT, 1893, BY HARPER & BROTHERS COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY W. D. HOWELLS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A Lady , entering the florist's with her muff to her face, and fluttering gayly up to the counter, where the florist stands folding a mass of loose flowers in a roll of cotton batting: Good-morning, Mr. Eichenlaub! Ah, put plenty of cotton round the poor things, if you don't want them frozen stiff! You have no idea what a day it is, here in your little tropic. She takes away her muff as she speaks, but gives each of her cheeks a final pressure with it, and holds it up with one hand inside as she sinks upon the stool before the counter.

The Florist: Dropic? With icepergs on the wintows? He nods his head toward the frosty panes, and wraps a sheet of tissue-paper around the cotton and the flowers.
The Lady: But you are not near the windows. Back here it is midsummer!
The Florist: Yes, we got a rhevricherator to keep the rhoces from sunstroke. He crimps the paper at the top, and twists it at the bottom of the bundle in his hand. Hier! he calls to a young man warming his hands at the stove. Chon, but on your hat, and dtake this to—Holt on! I forgot to but in the cart. He undoes the paper, and puts in a card lying on the counter before him; the lady watches him vaguely. There! He restores the wrapping and hands the package to the young man, who goes out with it. Well, matam?
The Lady , laying her muff with her hand in it on the counter, and leaning forward over it: Well, Mr. Eichenlaub. I am going to be very difficult.
The Florist: That is what I lige. Then I don't feel so rhesbonsible.
The Lady: But to-day, I wish you to feel responsible. I want you to take the whole responsibility. Do you know why I always come to you, instead of those places on Fifth Avenue?
The Florist: Well, it is a good teal cheaper, for one thing —
The Lady: Not at all! That isn't the reason, at all. Some of your things are dearer. It's because you take so much more interest, and you talk over what I want, and you don't urge me, when I haven't made up my mind. You let me consult you, and you are not cross when I don't take your advice.