Hullo, missy, what a splendid posy you've got there!" "Yes, are they not nice ?" replied Nellie, on the Captain thus turning the conversation to her collection of wild-flowers, some of which she had arranged tastefully in a big bunch and placed them in her tin bucket filled with water to keep them fresh.

"Aunt Polly helped me to gather them." "I dare say she told you their names and all about them at the same time, my dear." "Oh yes, Captain Dresser," said Nellie.

"She told me lots." "Ah!" ejaculated the Captain, heaving a deep sigh of regret.

"If I only knew as much as your auntie does of botany, missy, what a clever old chap I should be!" "Don't you believe him, Nell!" cried Mrs Gilmour deprecating the compliment.

"Captain Dresser knows quite as much as I do about plants and flowers, and a good deal more, too.