210 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
SCARLET GERANIUM. 
STUPIDITY. 
Madame de Stael was always angry whenever 
any of her acquaintance attempted to introduce a 
stupid person into her company. One day, one of 
her friends ventured, nevertheless, to bring to her a 
young Swiss officer of the most prepossessing ex- 
terior. The lady, pleased with his appearance, was 
very lively, and said a thousand flattering things to 
the new-comer, who seemed at first to be struck 
mute by surprise and admiration. When, however, 
he had listened to her above an hour without open- 
ing his lips, she began to suspect the cause of his 
silence, and put to him such direct questions that he 
could not help answering. Alas, for the visiter ! 
his answers were extremely silly ! Madame de 
Stael, vexed at having thrown away her time and 
her wit, turned to her friend and said : " Indeed, sir, 
you are like my gardener, who thought to do me a 
