Page 39 - Fairbrass

But as the Hollyhock was not quite sure

of his ground, he showed that underneath
his vanity lay a certain amount of common-

sense, and so lie wisely forbore to continue
the discussion.
1 Oh dear, oh dear ! ’ cried poor little

Fairbrass, as he lay on the grass in despair;

'who will tell me what the business is that
my father goes to every day, and which
makes him and mother so sad when he

comes home in the evening? ’

4 I've got an idea for you my boy,’ said
a voice at his feet, and, looking- down, he
found that the speaker was a pert-looking,

smartly-variegated, crimson and white

Picotee, who, with a close cluster of his
equally gay-looking brothers and sisters,
was lazily sunning himself and sweetly

scenting the warm summer air.
1 What is it ? J asked Fairbrass, for he

was willing to jump at any chance.
‘ It is this,* said the Picotee. ‘You

know how fond your father is of putting
one of us in his buttonhole when he goes