'They were withered, papa; they were spoilt; I could not keep them.'
'What did you do with them?'
'Papa, I thought I would try to dry them.'
'Yes, and what did you do with them?'
'Papa, I put them in that old, odd volume of the Encyclopaedia.'
'Bring it here and let me see.'
Much wondering and a little discomfited, Esther obeyed. She brought the great book to the side of the sofa, and turned over the pages carefully, showing the dried and drying leaves. She had a great love to them; what did her father want with them?
'What do you propose to do with those things, when they are dry? They are staining the book.'
'It's an old book, papa; it is no harm, is it?'
'What are you going to do with them? Are they to remain here permanently?'