They were an orgy and a prophecy, these flowers. They were an outburst of unnecessary loveliness in a house that did not dare open its doors to anything but necessities; and they showed, since they blossomed here though the rain roared down outside, that the world was not after all an immutably unpleasant place, and could be turned upside down very enjoyably if one had the money to buy things. It really was worth while struggling to get on.... "Mother, where did they come from?" "Ah!" said Mrs. Melville waggishly. "Och, tell me! I don't imagine you went out and pawned the family jewels. Och, do tell me! Come on!" "A boy brought them up from Gilbey, the florist's, this morning. I could have fallen down when I opened the door. And the wee brat of a boy tried to convey to me that he wasn't used to coming to such a place. He wore a look like a missionary in Darkest Africa. They were left for Miss Melville, mind you. Not for your poor old mother. And they're from Mr. Yaverland. Yon's his card sticking up against your grandmother on the mantelpiece." Ellen's hands, outspread over the roses, dropped to her side. "I would have thought he had more sense," she said sulkily. "If he'd money to burn he should have sent this lot to the infirmary." "Och, Ellen, are you not pleased?" "What's the man thinking of to fill us up with flowers as if we were an Episcopal church on Easter Sunday?" "Ellen, you've no notion of manners. Gentlemen often send flowers to ladies they admire. When your Aunt Bessie and I were girls many's the fine present of flowers we got from officers at the Castle." "I've neither time nor taste for such things. It makes me feel like a hospital. He'll be sending us new-laid eggs and lint bandages next. The man's mad." "Ellen, you're a queer girl," complained. Mrs. Melville. "If this argy-bargying about votes for women makes you turn up your nose at bonny flowers that a decent fellow sends you I'm sorry for you--it's just tempting Providence to scorn good mercies like this. I'll away and take the fish-pie out of the oven."