"Well, I owe a lot to my sisters, that's sure."
With quite a knightly air he cut the fairest bud at hand, and gave it to
her, saying quietly, "You wouldn't like it if I said anything soft and
sentimental, but you won't mind if I tell you that you seem to me a lot
like that bud there--that's going to blossom some day."
He knew it pleased her, for the ready colour told him so. But she
answered lightly:
"As yet I'm quite content to be only a bud. Your sister Celia is the
opening rose. Isn't she lovely? Here's one just like her. Take it to her
and tell her I said so, will you?"
She plucked the rose and motioned to where Celia was coming alone along
the orchard road, Frederic Forester having just left her for a hasty
trip to town. Jeff laughed, took the rose and the message, and brought
back Celia's thanks. Evelyn met him with her full basket, and the
rose-picking was over.
"She says to tell you you're a flatterer, but being a woman, she likes
it--and you," said Jeff, taking her basket away.
Doctor Forester's party had lasted eight days now, and his guests were
planning how to make the most of the time remaining, when Doctor
Churchill came spinning out in the middle of a Thursday morning with a
letter.
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