AboutthistimeafirmofmerchantshavingdealingswiththeEastputonthemarketlittlepaperflowerswhichopenedontouchingwater.Asitwasthecustomalsotousefinger-bowlsattheendofdinner,thenewdiscoverywasfoundofexcellentservice.Intheseshelteredlakesthelittlecolouredflowersswamandslidsurmountedsmoothslipperywaves,andsometimesfounderedandlaylikepebblesontheglassfloor.Theirfortuneswerewatchedbyeyesintentandlovely.Itissurelyagreatdiscoverythatleadstotheunionofheartsandfoundationofhomes.Thepaperflowersdidnoless.
Itmustnotbethought,though,thattheyoustedtheflowersofnature.Roses,lilies,carnationsinparticular,lookedovertherimsofvasesandsurveyedthebrightlivesandswiftdoomsoftheirartificialrelations.Mr.StuartOrmondmadethisveryobservationandcharmingitwasthoughtandKittyCrastermarriedhimonthestrengthofitsixmonthslater.Butrealflowerscanneverbedispensedwith.Iftheycould,humanlifewouldbeadifferentaffairaltogether.Forflowersfadechrysanthemumsaretheworstperfectovernightyellowandjadednextmorning—notfittobeseen.Onthewhole,thoughthepriceissinful,carnationspaybest—it'saquestion,however,whetherit'swisetohavethemwired.Someshopsadviseit.Certainlyit'stheonlywaytokeepthematadancebutwhetheritisnecessaryatdinnerparties,unlesstheroomsareveryhot,remainsindispute.OldMrs.Templeusedtorecommendanivyleaf—justone—droppedintothebowl.Shesaiditkeptthewaterpurefordaysanddays.ButthereissomereasontothinkthatoldMrs.Templewasmistaken.
Thelittlecards,however,withnamesengravedonthem,areamoreseriousproblemthantheflowers.Morehorses'legshavebeenwornout,morecoachmen'slivesconsumed,morehoursofsoundafternoontimevainlylavishedthanservedtowinusthebattleofWaterloo,andpayforitintothebargain.Thelittledemonsarethesourceofasmanyreprieves,calamities,andanxietiesasthebattleitself.SometimesMrs.Bonhamhasjustgoneoutatotherssheisathome.But,evenifthecardsshouldbesuperseded,whichseemsunlikely,therear