one in my family who''s interested in chemistry."
"How old are you?"
"Five."
"I''ll be five next month too. We''re about the same age, but you know so much!"
Only then did Edith remember and asked, "By the way, my name is Edith. What''s your name?"
"I''m Marie-Charlene de Saint-Clemont."
"Your name is so long," Edith muttered.
The little girl in the white dress smiled, "You can just call me Charlene."
-----------------------
From that day on, every time Edith went out to play, she would run straight to the garden to find Charlene.
In the centre of the garden, there grew large patches of blue and purple fleurs-de-lys. When the wind blew, the petals danced in the air like little doves flapping their wings.
One section of the flowerbed was dedicated to Charlene''s beloved pink roses. The governess would often pick a dew-kissed fresh rose and placed it next to Charlene''s blonde hair. Together with her lotus-pink dress, it made this young lady''s overly pale cheeks look lovely.
Charlene sat under the porch all day, watching Edith running around with her skirt lifted. Before, when the governess insisted on pushing her out to get some fresh air, she felt very impatient. But now, she thought this kind of time was absolutely wonderful.
This lively new friend seemed to have endless energy. Seeing how happy she was running and jumping, Charlene couldn''t help but smile along. It was as if Edith was taking her place, sprinkling her share of joy all around the garden.
Edith loved the sweet-scented air in the garden. Every time she came, she would eagerly inhale, sniffing with her nose until her head felt dizzy.
One time she complained to Charlene, "Strange, why can''t I smell the aroma anymore after being here for a while?"
Charlene thought for a moment and replied, "I remember reading an article that said it has something to do with a substance that numbs the senses."
Edith couldn''t understand these strange words. She just kept shouting that she wanted to smell that enchanting fragrance again.
Charlene suggested, "Why don''t you leave for a while and then come back to the garden later? You should be able to feel it again."