A tussie-mussie is a cross between a nosegay and a corsage. The Victorians would take a few
flowers and herbs, make a miniature bouquet, tie some ribbons around it and give it to someone.
But this wasn't an ordinary bouquet. A tussie-mussie delivered a message. Depending on what
flowers and herbs you choose, your tussie-mussie could say different things, like "I'm sorry"
or "I love you." It could say "You are beautiful and have lovely eyes." It could ask "Will you
be my friend?" or even "Will you marry me?"

Once you decided what you wanted your tussie-mussie to say, you also had to decide how to
deliver it. Would you deliver it personally; or send someone else? Or maybe just put it on the
doorstep, ring the bell, and hide.

What the recipient did with the tussie-mussie was the response. If she didn't wear it, or wore it
in some inconspicuous place -like the hem of her skirt- that was a negative response. If she
wore it on her head, perhaps in her hairdo or on her hat, she was saying, "Let me think about it."
But if she wore it proudly over her heart, she said "Yes, definitely, yes."