honor her by accepting a little offering from her daughter.
Hearing that she was then waiting in the hall, I told the man to
show her in. Susan (as I ought to have already mentioned) had
sent her exercises to me regularly every week. In returning them
corrected, I had once or twice added a word of well-deserved
approval. The offering of flowers was evidently intended to
express my pupil's grateful sense of the interest taken in her by
her teacher.

I had no reason, this time, to suppose that Mrs. Rymer
entertained an unfriendly feeling toward me. At the first words
of greeting that passed between us I perceived a change in her
manner, which ran in the opposite extreme. She overwhelmed me
with the most elaborate demonstrations of politeness and respect;
dwelling on her gratitude for my kindness in receiving her, and
on her pride at seeing her daughter's flowers on my table, until
I made a resolute effort to stop her by asking (as if it was
actually a matter of importance to me!) whether she was in London
on business or on pleasure.

"Oh, on business, sir! My poor husband invested his little
savings in bank stock, and I have just been drawing my dividend.
I do hope you don't think my girl over-bold in venturing to send
you a few flowers. She wouldn't allow me to interfere. I do
assure you she would gather and arrange them with her own hands.
In themselves I know they are hardly worth accepting; but if you
will allow the motive to plead--"

I made another effort to stop Mrs. Rymer; I said her daughter
could not have sent me a prettier present.