“If I thought that — !” said George, thrusting back the lock of hair from his brow.
“She would not be so cruel!” said Hero indignantly. “Don’t heed him, George!”
“If I thought it,” George said, “if I believed that she was trifling with me so heartlessly, I would — I would grind the rose under my heel!”
“No need to make a damned mess on our new carpet,” said Sherry. “Throw it out of the window!”
“Sherry, I don’t know how you can be so unfeeling!” Hero said reproachfully.
“Well, dash it, what is he to do with it?” asked Sherry. “A fellow can’t carry a lot of withered rose leaves about in his pocket! Just look at the thing already!”
George appeared to be a little daunted by this point of view. “I suppose it will fall to pieces,” he said disconsolately.
“No, no, there is not the least need!” Hero assured him. “You must press it between the leaves of a book, and then it will keep its shape. Sherry, George desires us to go with him to witness a balloon ascension! We are to take Isabella along with us, if she cares to come. You will like to go, will you not?”
“What, to watch a curst balloon go up?” exclaimed Sherry. “No, I wouldn’t!”
“But, Sherry, if you will not accompany us I do not know how we are to contrive!”