"You can't say another word now, Molly," he says laughing.
"Diamonds and sapphires!" says Molly taking this valuable ring in her hand, "my favourite mixture; but how very absurd of you to keep it all this time, Hugh."
"Not at all. I assure you I value it very much," and he returns it to his pocket-book with great care.
"I call it highly ridiculous. But now I am going round to my roses, and you may come too if you like. I want to cut some for the table."
"I am glad you are getting over some of your terror of me," laughs Hugh following her.
"The brothers Talboys tell me you are quite a little witch with your roses; they say you have brought them to such perfection."
"I believe I do know something about them," answers Molly.
"Becky!" she calls, catching sight of that damsel through the kitchen window, "bring out the large blue china bowl and put it on the front steps. Where no one will step into it; not in the middle. And fill it with water, please. Do you know," she says as she catches up Hugh again, "that Becky is perfectly overcome by the sight of your moustache. I do hope she won't smash the bowl in consequence. She is a great admirer of yours, you know," she runs on, snipping a rose off here and there. "When you went away last time she confided to me that you were 'the nicest gentleman as she ever see!' There's a pretty compliment for you. This afternoon she said to me, 'Mr. Hugh has haltered!' I wondered for the moment if you had ridden down and 'tethered your roan to a tree.'"
Hugh laughs heartily.
"I am sure I feel immensely flattered. What a lovely bud that is you are cutting now, Molly!"