manity is entrusted, and did not botany
enable these two to unite in planting that seed, and is not sympathy the
germ of full-blown love? If so, may they not be said to have fallen in
love botanically? We make no assertion in regard to this. We merely,
and modestly, put the question, leaving it to the intelligent reader to
supply the answer--an exceedingly convenient mode of procedure when one
is not quite sure of the answer one's self.

To return. Having got "at it," Barret and Milly continued at it for
several hours, during which period they either forgot, or did not care
to remember, the flight of time. They also contrived, during that time,
to examine, discuss, and comment upon, a prodigious number of plants,
all of which, being in pots or boxes, were conveyed by the youth to the
empty stand at the side of the fair invalid. The minute examination
with a magnifying glass of corolla, and stamen, and calyx, etcetera,
rendered it necessary, of course, that these inquiries into the
mysteries of Nature should bring the two heads pretty close together;
one consequence being that the seed-plant of sympathy was "forced" a
good deal, and developed somewhat after the fashion of those plants
which Hindoo jugglers cause magically to sprout, blossom, and bloom
before the very eyes of astonished beholders--with this difference,
however, that whereas the development of the jugglers is deceptive as
well as quick, that of our botanists was genuine and natural, though
rapid.

The clang of the luncheon gong was the first thing that brought them to
their senses.

"Surely there must be some mistake! Junkie must be playing with--no, it
is indeed one o'clock," exclaimed Milly, consulting in unbelief a watch
so small that it seemed like cruelty to expect it to go at all, much
less to go correctly.

As she spoke, the door of the conservatory opened, and Mrs Gordon
appeared with affected indignation on her usually mild countenance.

"You naughty child!" she exclaimed, hurrying forward. "Did I not warn
you to stay no longer than an hour? and here you are, flushed, and no
doubt feverish, in consequence of staying the whole forenoon. Take my
arm, and come away directly."

"I pray you, Mrs Gordon, to lay the blame on my shoulders," said
Barret. "I fear it was my encouraging Miss Moss to talk of her
favourite study that induced her to remain."

"I would be only too glad to lay the blame on your shoulders if I could
lay Milly's w