"Lor'! Ain't these beauties!" cried Million, sniffing rapturously. "Talk about doin' things in style! Well, it's a pretty classy kind of hotel where they gives you cut flowers like this for your table decorations."
"My dear Million, you don't suppose the hotel provided these carnations," I laughed, "as it provided the palms downstairs?"
"Lor'! Do I pay more money for 'em, then, Miss--Smith, I mean?"
"Pay? Nonsense. The flowers have been sent in by some one," I said.
I thought I could guess. I considered it a very pretty attention of Mr. Reginald Brace, Million's only new friend so far, the young bank manager.
I said: "Look and see; isn't there a note with the flowers?"
Million took up the fragrant sheaf. Something white was tucked in among the deep red blooms.
"There is a card," she said. She took it out, and glanced at it. I heard her exclaim in a startled voice: "Lor'! Who may he be when he's at home?"
"What?" I said. "Don't you remember who Mr. Brace is?"
"I remember Mr. Brace all right, Miss--Smith, I mean. But these here ain't from no Mr. Brace," said Million, in a voice of amazement. "Look at the card!"
"To Miss Million, with kindest greetings from an old friend of the family!"
"The Honourable James Burke, Ballyneck, Ireland."
"The Honourable!" echoed Million, breathing heavily on the H in "honourable." "Now who in the wide world is the gentleman called all that, who thinks he's a friend of my family (and one that hasn't any family), whoever's he?"
"It's very mysterious," I agreed, staring from the flowers to the card.
"Ring the bell, Million," I said. Then, remembering my place, I crossed the room and rung the bell myself.
"For the chamber-maid. She may be able to tell us something about this," I explained. "We'll ask her."
The rather prim-faced and middle-aged chamber-maid who appeared in answer to our summons had a startling announcement to make in answer to my query as to who was responsible for that sheaf of glorious carnations that we had found waiting.
"The flowers, Madam, yes. Mr. Burke gave them to me himself with orders that they were to be placed in Miss Million's room."
"Yes," I answered for Miss Million; "but who is this Mr. Burke? That is what we--I mean that is what Miss Million wants to know."