OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 25 



so, the cover of my box, which in my haste I had not fas- 

 tened down, came off, displaying the brilliant contents. 



u Them's fine flowers you have, ma'am." 



I stared at the man, quite surprised at what seemed to 

 me a piece of impertinence. 



" No offence, ma'am, but they are fine ones." 



"Yes," I said, and, replacing the cover of the box, I 

 attempted to pull down my veil, to show that I did not care 

 for further conversation. 



"Goodness! I've left my veil at home. What shall I 

 do now ? Well, it can't be helped ; I may as well put a 

 cheerful face on it. Luckily I shall not meet any one I 

 know or any of the Centre people. If I were at home I 

 should have a fit of the blues, but here I am in the city and 

 enough to do and think about in finding a market for my 

 flowers." 



While I was in the flower store, who should enter but my 

 railroad acquaintance, carrying a small green box in his 

 hand ! Coming to the counter, he laid it down, and said 

 to the man : 



" Good-morning, Thomas." 



* l Good-morning, Mr. McTernan. Have you any white 

 flowers?" 



" Tubes, jasmines, and liliums. Will that suit ye? " 



Upon which he opened his box and took out a small hand- 

 ful of wax-like white flowers, with a most overpowering 

 fragrance. All this time I had resolutely turned my back 

 3 



