"At last," she thought to herself, "at last they have done mejustice!"

The azaleas were all crowded round underneath her, like so manykneeling courtiers, but they were not taken out of their pots;they were only shrouded in moss. They had no Sevres vases. Andthey had always thought so much of themselves and given themselvessuch airs, for there is nothing so vain as an azalea,--except,indeed, a camellia, which is the most conceited flower in theworld, though, to do it justice, it is also the most industrious,for it is busy getting ready its next winter buds whilst thesummer is still scorching and broad on the land, which is somewhat wise andprudent in it and much to be commended.

Well, there was Rosa Indica at the head of the chamber in the Sevresvase, and very proud and triumphant she felt throned there, andthe azaleas, of course, were whispering enviously underneath her,"Well, after all, she was only Rosa Damascena not so VERY longago."

Yes, THEY KNEW! What a pity it was! They knew she had once beenRosa Damascena and never would wash it out of their minds--thetiresome, spiteful, malignant creatures!