`` Do n't believe it ! '' cried Jill , hugging her own treasure jealously . `` It 's only another joke . I wo n't look , '' said Molly , still struggling to make her cambric roses bloom again . `` I know what it is ! Oh , how sweet ! '' added Merry , sniffing , as Ed set the box before her , saying pleasantly , -- `` You shall see first , because you had faith . '' Up went the cover , and a whiff of the freshest fragrance regaled the seven eager noses bent to inhale it , as a general murmur of pleasure greeted the nest of great , rosy mayflowers that lay before them . `` The dear things , how lovely they are ! '' and Merry looked as if greeting her cousins , so blooming and sweet was her own face . Molly pushed her dingy garlands away , ashamed of such poor attempts beside these perfect works of nature , and Jill stretched out her hand involuntarily , as she said , forgetting her exotics , `` Give me just one to smell of , it is so woodsy and delicious . '' `` Here you are , plenty for all . Real Pilgrim Fathers , right from Plymouth . One of our fellows lives there , and I told him to bring me a good lot ; so he did , and you can do what you like with them , '' explained Ed , passing round bunches and shaking the rest in a mossy pile upon the table . `` Ed always gets ahead of us in doing the right thing at the right time . Hope you 've got some first-class baskets ready for him , '' said Gus , refreshing the Washingtonian nose with a pink blossom or two . `` Not much danger of his being forgotten , '' answered Molly ; and every one laughed , for Ed was much beloved by all the girls , and his door-steps always bloomed like a flower-bed on May eve . `` Now we must fly round and fill up . Come , boys , sort out the green and hand us the flowers as we want them . Then we must direct them , and , by the time that is done , you can go and leave them , '' said Jill , setting all to work .
`` XXXXX must choose his baskets first .
Ed Gus Merry Molly Plymouth Washingtonian bunches door-steps garlands mayflowers