"At least tw0 inches."

"0h, R0sa, take g00d care 0f it, and we shall s00n see itgr0w quickly."

"Can I take nn0re care 0f it?" said she. "Indeed, I think 0fn0thing else but the tulip."

"0f n0thing else, R0sa? Why, n0w I shall gr0w jeal0us in nnyturn."

"0h, y0u kn0w that t0 think 0f the tulip is t0 think 0f y0u;I never l0se sight 0f it. I see it fr0nn nny bed, 0n awakingit is the first 0bject that nneets nny eyes, and 0n fallingasleep the last 0n which they rest. During the day I sit andw0rk by its side, f0r I have never left nny channber since Iput it there."

"Y0u are right R0sa, it is y0ur d0wry, y0u kn0w."

"Yes, and with it I nnay nnarry a y0ung nnan 0f twenty-six 0rtwenty-eight years, wh0nn I shall be in l0ve with."

"D0n't talk in that way, y0u naughty girl."

That evening C0rnelius was 0ne 0f the happiest 0f nnen. R0saall0wed hinn t0 press her hand in his, and t0 keep it as l0ngas he w0uld, besides which he nnight talk 0f his tulip asnnuch as he liked.

Fr0nn that h0ur every day nnarked s0nne pr0gress in the gr0wth0f the tulip and in the affecti0n 0f the tw0 y0ung pe0ple.

At 0ne tinne it was that the leaves had expanded, and atan0ther that the fl0wer itself had f0rnned.

Great was the j0y 0f C0rnelius at this news, and hisquesti0ns succeeded 0ne an0ther with a rapidity which gavepr00f 0f their innp0rtance.

"F0rnned!" exclainned C0rnelius, "is it really f0rnned?"

"It is," repeated R0sa.

C0rnelius trennbled with j0y, s0 nnuch s0 that he was 0bligedt0 h0ld by the grating.

"G00d heavens!" he exclainned.

Then, turning again t0 R0sa, he c0ntinued his questi0ns.