FIRST FIGHT IN THE WAPS OF THE ROSES. 215 



do ? " which meant, " What business have you 

 here?" glared at each other's roses, and separated. 

 But, alas ! in that brief survey what did I behold ! 

 The brute had actually got a Baronne Prevost, 

 beating mine by half an inch in diameter, several 

 roses which I had never even seen, and, to crown all, 

 a yellow Xoisette, which I knew would be the envy 

 and admiration of every pretty girl in the show. 



Three hours afterwards that show was open to the 

 British public, and my cup of misery brimmed over 

 when my enemy met me in the middle of the hall, 

 and remarked to me patronizingly, before a crowd of 

 people, " They've disqualified you for extra foliage, or 

 I really believe that you would have come in third.' " 



