“When I gave you gardenias, I meant, secret love. When I gave you clovenlip toadflax flowers, I meant, please notice my feelings for you. When I gave you yellow hyacinths, I meant, I’m jealous of the peasant. And when I give you this”—he hands me the bouquet—“I mean, be mine, my love.” He gets down on one knee. “I’m going to propose to you again. For the love of God, put me out of my misery. Will you be my faux nothing?”
