or probably it would burst into tears at the expression with which it
is regarded. It is impossible that any lady should desire such a
cauliflower. Still, out of mere curiosity, she would know the price-
-that is, if the owner of the cauliflower is not too much ashamed of
it to name a price.

The owner of the cauliflower suggests six sous. The thing is too
ridiculous for argument. The purchaser breaks into a laugh.

The owner of the cauliflower is stung. She points out the beauties
of that cauliflower. Apparently it is the cauliflower out of all her
stock she loves the best; a better cauliflower never lived; if there
were more cauliflowers in the world like this particular cauliflower
things might be different. She gives a sketch of the cauliflower's
career, from its youth upwards. Hard enough it will be for her when
the hour for parting from it comes. If the other lady has not
sufficient knowledge of cauliflowers to appreciate it, will she
kindly not paw it about, but put it down and go away, and never let
the owner of the cauliflower see her again.

The other lady, more as a friend than as a purchaser, points out the
cauliflower's defects. She wishes well to the owner of the
cauliflower, and would like to teach her something about her
business. A lady who thinks such a cauliflower worth six sous can
never hope to succeed as a cauliflower vendor. Has she really taken
the trouble to examine the cauliflower for herself, or has love made
her blind to its shortcomings?

The owner of the cauliflower is too indignant to reply. She snatches
it away, appears to be comforting it, replaces it in the basket. The