THE FLOWER MARKET 93 



do for Ruby-throat's breakfast ; you smell a-w- 

 fully, and your thorns sting like nettles. Wouf ! " 

 And she shuddered and wiped the afflicted member 

 with a large red cotton handkerchief. 



She preferred these handkerchiefs above any 

 other sort. In the first place, they did not lose 

 themselves easily, a matter of great importance; 

 then she could carry almost anything in them that 

 she could lift, from eggs, fruit, and such like, 

 to mossy stones and clumps of ferns. They also 

 made admirable towels, when she had been fishing 

 with her hands for tadpoles or frogs, or wading 

 in the river, and lastly they made very effective 

 signal flags. 



Next morning brought better luck. Jacque- 

 minot buds began to peep out from their cool 

 dark green leaves, and one great pink cabbage 

 rose had slipped its roundness from the five green 

 claws that held it in bud. Here was quite enough 

 for a bouquet. 



Selfish Tommy- Anne ! Her father, who was 

 also watching the roses, came through the garden, 

 cut the pink beauty and its long stem with one 

 flash of his knife, and carried it indoors to her 

 mother. Of course the red roses would do, but 

 Ruby-throat might have felt more complimented 

 by the larger flower ; or he might have a choice 



