"I'll give half to you, and half to mamma," said Dorothy. "I mean, I will if you'd like to have them." "It is a sweet gift, and I shall enjoy them in my room," Mrs. Vinton said. "I have a lovely vase that is worthy to hold such beautiful blossoms." "I'll divide mine between Aunt Charlotte and Mrs. Hermanton," said Nancy. "You both like to give," said Mrs. Vinton. "Oh, yes!" they cried together, and as she left them, Dorothy said: "Isn't she a sweet, lovely lady?" "Yes, and I like to hear her talk, her voice always sounds so pleasant." Mrs. Vinton, as she walked along the little path, her flowers in her hand, thought of Dorothy and Nancy. "They are two dear little girls," she said, "and add to the charm of this lovely place." "Would you dare to give Mr. Cunningham some bluebells for his buttonhole?" said Nancy. "I'd like to, but _I_ wouldn't dare." "I don't know," Dorothy said. "I'd like to, too, and he 'most always has a rosebud, but sometimes he doesn't. When we get back, if he's on the piazza, and hasn't a bud in his buttonhole, I'll try to dare to offer him some of these blossoms." Dear little Dorothy! She wondered if she would be rewarded with a frown! Floretta and her mother were not there, neither was Mrs. Dayne, but in a shady corner sat Mr. Cunningham. Nancy ran in to take her flowers to Aunt Charlotte and Mrs. Hermanton. Dorothy hesitated. She would have been even more timid, had she known how recently he had been offended. He looked up from his book, frowned, then smiled and nodded pleasantly. He had thought that Floretta had returned, and was pleasantly surprised to see Dorothy, instead. Softly she crossed the piazza until she stood beside him. "May I give you a few of these bluebells for your buttonhole?" she said. "They're only wild flowers, but they're pretty ones," she added, fearing that, after all, he might not care for them. "Why, thank you, my dear. I surely would like them, especially as they are offered me by a real little lady." He placed the cluster that she offered him in his lapel, as he spoke, and looked to Dorothy for approval. "They are wild flowers, truly," he said, "but I think they are quite as attractive as the buds I have been wearing," and Dorothy was glad that she had offered them. CHAPTER II A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE THREE weeks had passed, and as nearly every day had been fair, the guests at the Cleverton had lived out of doors, appearing at the hotel at meal-time, and at night. Other wild flowers beside the bluebells were blossoming gaily, peeping up from the grass as if offering a welcome to all who looked at them; and even great rocks and ledges held tiny blossoming plants in their crevices. The pony, Romeo, had come to the mountains with the family, and seemed to enjoy the outing. Every morning Dorothy and Nancy went for a drive, and Romeo tossed his mane, and pranced as if to show his delight.