So he hastily readjusted his hat.
“My own stupidity entirely,” he said; “do not blame the tree. Yes, I have brought you just a few flowers, and though they are not worthy of your acceptance, they are not the worst bunch of sweet-peas I have ever seen, not the worst. These, Catherine the Great, for instance, are not—well—they do not grow quite in every garden.”
Mrs. Evans opened her blue eyes a little wider.
“And are they really for me, Major Ames?” she asked again. “It is good of you. My precious flowers! They must be put in water at once. Watkins, bring me one of the big flower-bowls out here. I will arrange them myself.”
“Lucky flowers, lucky flowers,” chuckled Major Ames.
“It’s I who am lucky,” said she, acknowledging this subtle compliment with a little smile. “I stop away from church rather lazily, and am rewarded by a pleasant visit and a beautiful nosegay. And what a charming party we had last night! I could hardly believe it when I came back here and found it was nearly half-past eleven. Such hours!”
Major Ames gave his great loud laugh.
“You are making fun of us, Mrs. Evans,” he said; “’pon my word you are making fun of us and our quiet ways down at Riseborough. I’ll be bound that when you were in London, half-past eleven was more the sort of time when you began to go out to your dances.”
“I used to go out a good deal when I was quite young,” she said. “Wilfred used quite to urge me to go out, and certainly people were very kind in asking me. I remember one night in the season, I was asked to two dinner-parties and a ball and an evening party. After all, it is natural to take pleasure in innocent gaiety when one is young.”
Major Ames felt very hot after his walk, and, forgetting the adventure of his hair, nearly removed his straw hat. But providentially he remembered it again just in time.