"The craving which some very vulgar people, to whom I should never dream of comparing my friends, have for another kind of stimulant." "It is a sort of intoxication, you mean," said Ada, gaily. "I will not deny it; a very pleasant sort of intoxication. I wish that you would come to Grosvenor Square and try it." Flora gently shook her head. "What! you are afraid of being contaminated by my evil example, I suppose! You look on gaiety as a dangerous glass of champagne; and have all here taken the pledge not to go beyond a cup of the very weakest green tea?" "It is not that," said Flora, looking diverted. "Then I shall carry you off with me--I positively shall; you shall be the belle of the London season; your time shall be crammed so full with engagements, balls, operas, concerts, fêtes, that you will scarcely know day from night!" "I do not think that my mother would approve of that." "Well, then, you shall go to no place of which your mother, and Mr. Ward, and the whole clerical body from bishop to curate, would not approve. We’ll take you to Exeter Hall, and the Museum, and the Royal Institution, panoramas, cycloramas, dioramas! Oh! there is no place like London for opening the mind. A green bud of rusticity expands at once into a full-blown rose there." "May there not be such things as over-blown roses?" "No fear; I’ll answer for you, coz, if you’ll only go back with me to London. Say that you will--only say that you will," and Ada placed her arm caressingly around Flora. "I really cannot, at present," replied her cousin, "though I should very much enjoy paying you a visit. But it would be impossible for me to quit home just now, when we are expecting my sister-in-law from Barbadoes--" "Ah! yes; the widow of your half-brother," said Ada. "John married a Creole lady, did he not, rather against the wishes of your poor father?" Flora bowed her head in assent. "Then your sister-in-law is a perfect stranger to you?" "Quite; and as she dislikes her pen, and never answers a letter, we have not even the knowledge of each other which one gains from correspondence." "I think I heard that there were children," said Ada. "Yes; four poor dear little orphans." "And all coming to your home?" "My mother will welcome them all." "Ahem! I wish you joy of your West Indian importation. My aunt must have been remarkably fond of her step-son!"