"A very big man, in the most outrageous dress," she said at last, "wanted to be let in; when the gatekeeper refused, he forced his way in. He asked for you."
"For me," said Selene, blushing.
"Yes, my child, he brought a large and beautiful nosegay of flowers, and said 'your friend at Lochias sends you his greeting.'"
"My friend at Lochias?" murmured thoughtfully Selene to herself. Then her eyes sparkled with gladness, and she asked quickly:
You said the man who brought the flowers was very tall."
"He was."
"Oh please, dame Hannah, let me see the flowers?" cried Selene, trying to raise herself.
"Have you a lover, child?" asked the widow.
"A lover?—no, but there is a young man with whom we always used to play when we were quite little—an artist, a kind, good man—and the nosegay must be from him."
Hannah looked with sympathy at the girl, and signing to Mary she said: