64 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

“Well, as to the price, suppose we says fifteen
shillings for the two?”

This is really a relief to my mind, for I
have been tormented with ideas that the
flowers, so fine as they are, might possibly
come to more than I had in my possession,
though I hardly thought it likely; so without
the smallest hesitation I pull out my purse
and present him with the amount. He then
escorts me to the gate with great ceremony,
and after seeing me into the carriage and
propping the pots up beside me, stands
leaning on the gate watching me as I drive

“off.

I glance at the clock as once more we pass
down the High Street, and find that it is
already a quarter past seven. There is no
occasion to inform Frisk of this fact, however,
for his head once being turned towards
home, he makes good use of his legs, and we
get home in about half the time that we
were coming. [ am just proceeding to con-
gratulate myself on having arrived without
being seen, when I descry a figure strolling