It was a great rarity in Europe at that time.

Rudolf thought this specimen very beautiful, and maintained that only at Schoenbrunn was a more beautiful one to be seen.
And again they fell a-talking about trifling general topics, walking as they talked up and down the garden; and Rudolf fancied that now he had conquered this woman, and the woman fancied that she had already sinned sufficiently to be condemned for ever.

It is true she had only been walking arm-in-arm with Rudolf throughout one long hour, and they had only been talking of insignificant, comical, general topics.

But oh, through it all she had felt a sinful pleasure in her heart.

And what did it matter that nobody knew, she herself felt that that happiness was a stolen treasure.
At last they returned to the Castle again.
When Rudolf went to bed that night, he found on a table in the antechamber of his bedroom a bouquet of flowers in a handsome china vase, in the midst of which he immediately distinguished the unique and magnificent dahlia.
And he thought he understood.
Next day the men were occupied all the morning with so-called official business, and who would think of a woman in the midst of such grave matters?
In the afternoon, rainy weather set in, whence arose the double disadvantage that Squire John was doubly as sleepy as usual, and that Fanny was unable to seek refuge in the garden where, beneath the protection of the open air, she was better protected against the threatened danger.
She felt the fever in every limb.