“The imitation comes from you. It was I who first besought Miss Norah to take pity on my poor roses.”
“Really, Basil, you must excuse me, but you force me to point out once more—as Miss Norah has done already—that you brought those flowers for Miss Audrey. It’s no use pretending that you didn’t.”
“I pretend nothing; let me advise you also to avoid pretence. Is there any valid reason why we should not join in requesting Miss Norah’s acceptance of both our little nosegays?”
“Not a bad idea, if Miss Norah will only so far honour us.”
“Not if I know it; I haven’t quite lost my senses, even if you have.”
They seemed startled, even hurt. Mr Purchase, in particular, shivered almost as if I had struck him.
“Do you think that I wish to get into trouble by accepting other people’s property?”
“You scarcely state the case correctly, Miss Norah, if you will forgive my saying so. Up to the present moment the nosegays are our property—ours.”
“Then, so far as I am concerned, they will continue to remain your property—and, in any case, I should decline to accept what was originally intended for another.”
“Then all that remains for me is to throw my poor flowers out of the window.”