ith the spring days the flowers came back, and Ted,
who last year had been too little to notice them much, grew to like the
other turning of the road almost better than that which led to the sea.
For down the lanes, hiding in among the hedges, or more boldly smiling
up at him in the fields, he learnt to know the old friends that all
happy children love so dearly.

One day he found some flowers that seemed to him prettier than any he
had ever seen, and full of delight he trudged home with a baby bouquet
of them in his little hot hands. It was getting past spring into summer
now, and Ted felt a little tired by the time he and his nurse had
reached the house, and he ran in as usual to find his mother and relate
his adventures.

"Ted has broughtened some most beauty flowers," he eagerly cried, and
his mother stooped down to kiss and thank him, even though she was busy
talking to some ladies who had come to see her, and whom Ted in his
hurry had hardly noticed. He glanced round at them now with curiosity
and interest. He rather liked ladies to come to see his mother, only he
would have liked it still better if they would have just let him stay
quietly beside her, looking at them and listening to what they said,
without noticing him. But that way of behaving would not have seemed
kind, and as Ted grew older he understood this, and learnt that it was
right to feel pleased at being spoken to and even kissed.

"How well Ted is looking," said one of the ladies to his mother. "He is
growing quite a big, strong boy. And what pretty flowers he has brought
you. Are you very fond of flowers, my little man?"

"Ses," said Ted, looking up in the lady's face.

"The wild flowers about here are very pretty," said another of the
ladies.

"Very pretty," said his mother; "but it is curious, is it not, that
there are no cowslips in this country? They are such favourites of mine.
I have such pleasant remembrances of them as a child."

She turned, for Ted was tugging gently at her sleeve. "What is
towslips?" he asked.

"Pretty little yellow flowers, something like primroses," said his
mother.

"Oh!" said Ted. Then nurse knocked at the door, and told him his tea was
ready, and so he trotted off.

"Mother loves towslips," he said to himself two or three times over,
till his nurse asked him what he was talking about.

"But there's no cowslips here," said nurse, when he had repeated it.

"No," said Ted; "but p'raps Ted could find some.