Very gently he put an arm round her,--and with a tender delicacy of touch unfastened the rose she wore at her bosom.
"There, dear!" he said--"I will keep this with me for company! It is like you--except that it doesn't talk and doesn't ask for love--" "It has it without asking!" she murmured.
He smiled.
"Has it?
Well,--perhaps it has!" He paused--then stooping his tall head kissed her once on the lips as a brother might have kissed her.

"And perhaps--one day--when the right man comes along, you will have it too!".