It was indeed. There, just inside the door, stood a wide , shallow tray full of pink lilies. No other kind. Nothing but lilies - canna lilies, big pink flowers, wide oen, radiant, almost frighteningly alive on bright crimson stems.
"O-oh, sadie!" said Laura, and the sound was like a little moan. She bent down as if to warm herself at that bright mass, of lilies ; she felt the were in her fingers, on her lips, growing inside her."It´s some mistake" she said faintly. "Nobody ever ordered so many.
Sadie, go and find mother." But that moment Mrs. Sheridan joined them.
"It´s quite right," she said calmy. "yes, I ordered them. Aren´t they lovely?"she pressed Laura´s arm. "I was passing the shop yesterday, and I saw them in the window. And I studdenly thought that for once in my life I sall have enough canna lilies. The garden party will be a good excuse."
"But I though you said you didn´t want to interfere ," said Laura. Sadie has gone. The florist´s man was still outside, by his van .She put her arm round her mother´s neck and gently,very gently,bit her mothers ear.
"My darling child, you wouldn´t like a logical mother, would you? Don´t do that. Here´s the man." He carried even more lilies, another whole tray.
"Pile them up, just inside the door, on both sides of the porch,please,"said Mrs. Shridan. !Don´t you agree, Laura?"
"Oh, I do, mother."
In the drawing-room Meg, Jose and good little Hans had a last succeeded in moving the piano.
"Now, if we put this sofa against the wall and move everything out of the room except the chairs, don´t you think?"
"Yes"
"Hans, move these tables into the smoking-room, and bring a sweeper to take these marks off the carpet and - one moment, Hans - "Jose loved giving orders to the servants and they loved obeying her. She always made them feel as if they were taking part in some drama. Tell mother and Miss Laura to come here at once."
"Very good, Miss Jose."
She turned to Meg. "I want to hear what the piano sounds like, just in case I´m asked to sing this afternoon. Let´s try ¨This Life is wearly´."