60 THE FLOWERS

Madame la Baronne smiled at this state of
affairs, and after some reflection said, “Make
my compliments to your young ladies, Ma-
dame Bulé, and invite them on my part to
the chateau. Tell them that my féte this
year is to be called the Feast of the Flowers,
and I shall expect each young lady to appear
adorned with a garland or wreath of her
favourite flower ;” adding, “I shall bestow a
crown on that young lady whose ornaments
please me best; and lest,” she added, “my
taste should be disputed, there shall be a
motto woven with the myrtle of which my
crown is to be composed, which shall signify
the rule by which I am to make my se-
lection.”

Madame Bulé assured Madame la Baronne
that her message should be faithfully deli-
vered ; and I was very solicitous to know of
the lady what was to be the import of her
motto.

“T-assure you, father,” she replied, “that
it shall be one you shall not dare to dis-
approve ; but lest you should give a hint to
some little favourite you may have, I cannot
tell you.” I was therefore obliged, after