OE, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 27 



had a weather-stained, yet kindly and honest face. He 

 must be a 



" Ma'am? Excuse me, ma'am, but I must speak to ye a 

 moment." 



Turning round to see who had the audacity to address 

 me in the public street, I found Mr. McTernan, box 

 and all. 



" Excuse me, ma'am, if I make bold to say that ye 

 mustn't sell your flowers so cheap. Ye must charge him 

 more. Make 'em pay ' 



"Sir," I cried, " how dare you! What is it to you? 

 I'll thank you to leave me." 



"Just as ye like. But it was for your own good I 

 was telling ye." 



Somewhat mollified, I replied, "How is that?" 



"Why, ye see that box of flowers ye had was worth 

 more than he gave ye." 



"How do you know anything about it?" said I, 

 annoyed and perplexed at the whole adventure. 



" Well, ma'am, I grows flowers myself, and I know what 

 they are worth ; and all he gave you was two dollars for 

 the lot." 



" How do you know what he gave me ? " 



" I seen him hand it ye." 



Now, to tell the truth, I had not looked at the money ; 

 so I opened my purse, and sure enough it was two dollars. 



" And, ma'am, it's not right to take the money without 



