She took one from the bunch, and he stood watching while she pinned it to her dress. “You may bring me some, now and then,” she said with one of her marvelous smiles. “Don't forget.” And then, as she went on, she touched him upon the hand. At the touch of her warm, living fingers such a thrill passed through the boy as made him reel. It was something blind and elemental, outside of anything that he had dreamed of in his life. She went on down the hall and left him there, and he had to lean against a table for support. And all that day he was in a daze--with bursts of rapture sweeping over him. She was interested in him! She had smiled upon him! She had touched his hand! He went home that evening on purpose to tell Sophie; and the two of them talked about it for hours. He told the story over and over again. And Sophie listened, with her eyes shining and her hands clasped in an ecstasy of delight. “Oh, Samuel!” she whispered. “I knew it--I knew she'd appreciate you! She was so beautiful--I knew she must be kind and good!” CHAPTER XI A week passed, and Samuel did not see his divinity again. He lived upon the memory of their brief interview, and while he trimmed the hedges he was dreaming the most extravagant dreams of rescues and perilous escapes. For the first time he began to find that his work was tedious; it offered so few possibilities of romance! If only he had been her chauffeur, now! Or the guide who escorted her in her tramps about the wilderness! Or the man who ran the wonderful motor-boat that was shaped like a knife blade! Samuel continued to ponder, and was greatly worried lest the commonplace should ingulf him. So little he dreamed how near was a change! Bertie Lockman had been away for a few days, visiting some friends, and he came back unexpectedly one afternoon. Samuel knew that he had not been expected, for always there were great bunches of flowers to be placed in his room. The gardener happened to be away at the time the motor arrived, and so Samuel upon his own responsibility cut the flowers and took them into the house. He left them in the housekeeper's workroom and then set out to find that functionary, and tell her what he had done. So, in the entrance to the dining room, he stumbled upon his young master, giving some orders to Peters, the butler. As an humble gardener's boy, Samuel should have stepped back and vanished. Instead he came forward, and Bertie smiled pleasantly and said, “Hello, Samuel.” “Good afternoon, Master Albert,” said Samuel. “And how do you like your work?” the other asked. “I like it very well, sir,” he replied; and then added apologetically, “I was bringing some flowers.” The master turned to speak to Peters again; and Samuel turned to retire. But at that instant there came the sound of a motor in front of the house. “Hello,” said Bertie. “Who's that?” and turned to look through the entrance hall. Peters went forward to the door; and so Samuel was left standing and watching.