“I shall have to give you a book of Mangnall’s Questions to learn,” said Roylands in despair. “Planta genista is the Latin name for broom. Do you know what broom is?”
“Yes; the mountains are sometimes quite yellow with it. Father told me it was called broom.”
“Well, some of the English kings used to wear it in their helmets as a badge, so that is how they got the name of Plantagenet.”
“You are quite a dictionary.”
“I am glad to be so when my pages are turned by so fair a hand.”
This answer nonplussed Helena, and for once she was fain to hold her peace.
“The park,” resumed Maurice, observing this with inward satisfaction, “was given to one of my ancestors by the then sovereign of England, and has been in our family ever since.”
“Is it a pretty place?”
“Well, it has not the exquisite beauty of Melnos, but it is very lovely in my eyes.”
“Is the house like this?”