CHAPTER XV 



AT A ROSE-SHOW 



As the young knight in the olden time, having 

 reached ^y^ place ordayned and appointed to trye 

 y^ bittermoste by stroke of battle/ became naturally 

 curious concerning his adversaries, and, after caring 

 for his horse, and looking to his armour, went forth 

 to inspect the Flower of Chivalry, and the lists, in 

 which that flower would shortly form a bed of ^ Love- 

 lies - bleeding ' — so the exhibitor, having finally 

 arranged his Roses, strolls through the glowing 

 aisles of the show. Soon experience will teach him 

 to survey calmly, and to gauge accurately, the forces 

 of his foe ; at first he but glances nervously, fur- 

 tively, at the scene around him, like a new boy at 

 some public school. The sight brings him hopes 

 and fears. Now a hurried sidelong look shows him 

 flowers inferior to his own, and he is elate, happy. 

 Now an objectionably large Marie Baumann obtrudes 

 itself upon his vision, and his heart fails him. He 



steps, as it were, from the warm stove, gay with 



248 



