"
"You like to do everything en reine, Beatrice," said Lady Helena,
with a well-pleased smile.
"If you have not flowers sufficient, Miss Earle," said Lord
Airlie, "I will send to Lynnton. My gardener considers himself a
past master of his art."
"My dear Lord Airlie," said Lady Earle, "we have flowers in
profusion. You have not been through the conservatories. It
would while away the morning pleasantly for you all. Beatrice,
select what flowers you will, and have them arranged as you
like."
"See," said the triumphant beauty, "what a grand thing a strong
will is! Imagine papa's saying he thought thirty or forty plants
in full flower would be sufficient! We will surprise him. If
the gardener loses his reason, as Lady Earle seems to think
probable, he must be taken care of."
Lord Airlie loved Beatrice best in such moods; imperious and
piquant, melting suddenly into little gleams of tenderness, then
taking refuge in icy coldness and sunny laughter. Beautiful,
dazzling, capricious, changing almost every minute, yet charming
as she changed, he would not have bartered one of her proudest
smiles or least words for anything on earth.
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