From what flowers it was
distilled no artist in essences alive could have told. I incline to
think that, like the "birk" in the ghost's garland,
"They were not grown on earthly bank,
Nor yet on earthly sheugh."
Guy took Miss Bellasys in to dinner, and I found myself placed on her
other side. I had been introduced to her ten minutes before, but had
little opportunity for "improving the occasion," as the Nonconformists
have it, for she never once deigned a look in my direction.
My right-hand neighbor was an elderly man of a full habit, whom it would
have been cruel to disturb till the rage of hunger was appeased, so I
was fain to seek amusement in the conversation going on on my left.
There was no indiscretion in this, for I knew Guy would never touch
secrets of state in mixed company.
For some time they talked nothing but commonplaces, evidently feeling
each other's foils. The real fencing began with a question from
Flora--if he was not surprised at seeing her there that evening.
"Not at all," was the reply; "I knew we must meet before long. It is
only parallels that don't; and there is very little of the right line
about either you or me."
"Speak for yourself," Miss Bellasys said; "I consider that a very rude
observation.
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