all these flowers, to water, to bind them up to the sticks, and to watch their progress in leafing and budding and flowering, brought their young mistress very often to the window. It was now the happy lover’s turn to explain these hieroglyphics, and he never failed to send his joyous greetings across the way, to the attentive ear of his sweet young gardener, through the medium of his lute. This at length began to make a powerful impression on her young virgin heart; and she felt vexed at her mother for calling him an idle spendthrift, a very worthless fellow, which she took great pleasure in repeating during their conversations after dinner: sometimes even comparing him to the prodigal son. Poor Mela, though with great caution, would venture to take his part, ascribing his follies to youthful indiscretion, and the seductions of bad companions; only blaming him for not having attended in time to the good proverb, which bids us “Spare to-day, as it may rain to-morrow.”
Meanwhile this young spendthrift, whom the old lady was so busily reviling at home, was indulging only the kindest feelings towards her, reflecting in what way, as far as his situation would permit, he could best improve her circumstances. His motive, to be sure, was rather to assist the young, than the old lady, by his gifts. He had just obtained secret information that her mother had refused his Mela a
C 5
