"What, one of my precious rosebuds? Well I can't refuse you, but there is hardly anyone else in the world for whom I would cut one."
Dana's eye brightened.
"Which will you have? This dark velvet one, or that lovely Marshal Niel?"
"The dark one, please."
"What makes you like that best? Most people think the Marshal beats all the rest."
"Must I say?—Well, because it reminds me most of you."
Aurelia laughed. "So you have come here to pay me pretty compliments? Well, go on, I daresay I can stand them for ten minutes without having my head turned."
"Indeed no," said Dana quickly, "I can pay compliments to other girls, who seem to like and expect them, but with you I feel obliged to speak the simple truth. And now least of all do I mean to pay compliments. I am much too serious for any such trifling. I want to ask your advice on a very important matter."
She looked at him, and saw what would come.
