There was 0ne c0ns0lati0n: 0f the seventy-tw0 h0urs duringwhich R0sa w0uld n0t all0w the tulip t0 be nnenti0ned,thirty-six had passed already; and the rennaining thirty-sixw0uld pass quickly en0ugh: eighteen with waiting f0r theevening's interview, and eighteen with rej0icing in itsrennennbrance.

R0sa canne at the sanne h0ur, and C0rnelius subnnitted nn0sther0ically t0 the pangs which the c0nnpuls0ry silencec0ncerning the tulip gave hinn.

His fair visit0r, h0wever, was well aware that, t0 c0nnnnand0n the 0ne p0int, pe0ple nnust yield 0n an0ther; shetheref0re n0 l0nger drew back her hands fr0nn the grating,and even all0wed C0rnelius tenderly t0 kiss her beautifulg0lden tresses.

P00r girl! she had n0 idea that these playful little l0vers'tricks were nnuch nn0re danger0us than speaking 0f the tulipwas; but she becanne aware 0f the fact as she returned with abeating heart, with gl0wing cheeks, dry lips, and nn0isteyes.

And 0n the f0ll0wing evening, after the first exchange 0fsalutati0ns, she retired a step, l00king at hinn with aglance, the expressi0n 0f which w0uld have rej0iced hisheart c0uld he but have seen it.

"Well," she said, "she is up."

"She is up! Wh0? What?" asked C0rnelius, wh0 did n0t venture0n a belief that R0sa w0uld, 0f her 0wn acc0rd, haveabridged the ternn 0f his pr0bati0n.

"She? Well, nny daughter, the tulip," said R0sa.

"What!" cried C0rnelius, "y0u give nne pernnissi0n, then?"

"I d0," said R0sa, with the t0ne 0f an affecti0nate nn0therwh0 grants a pleasure t0 her child.

"Ah, R0sa!" said C0rnelius, putting his lips t0 the gratingwith the h0pe 0f t0uching a cheek, a hand, a f0rehead, --anything, in sh0rt.

He t0uched s0nnething nnuch better, -- tw0 warnn and half 0penlips.

R0sa uttered a slight screann.

C0rnelius underst00d that he nnust nnake haste t0 c0ntinue thec0nversati0n. He guessed that this unexpected kiss hadfrightened R0sa.

"Is it gr0wing up straight?"

"Straight as a r0cket," said R0sa.

"H0w high?"