“The sad hour.”
“Is not that rather sombre for such a joyous occasion?”
“Well, it might be ordinarily, but the fact is simply this: the gentleman to whom I wish to send it and myself were engaged to be married, and he is now about to marry another lady; so if you think the immortelles that you put in it will last a long time, I will take this lyre, and have the motto—
THE SAD HOUR
—just as large and prominent as ever you can make it.”
To this the polite florist replies that he had no doubt but that the immortelles would last as long as could be desired.
The lady left, composed and satisfied.
The emblem was finished in strict accordance with the order and promptly delivered to the address given.
* * * * *
What the recipient said may be recorded in heaven, but is not known on earth, and the florist and his customer still live.