IdidnotintendtoprosecuteJim，hewasnotworthit，butI
　　shouldhavethoroughlyenjoyeddragginghimoutofthatwagonandsilencinghimbyprimitivemethods。Myangerhadnotcooledtoanyextent。Hedidnotspeaktomeagain，thoughIheardhimmutteringasthecartmovedoff。IremainedwhereIwasuntilIsawitturnintotheLowerRoad。ThenIoncemorestartedforhome。
　　Iwasverymuchannoyedanddisturbed。EvidentlythissortofthinghadbeengoingonforsometimeandIhadjustdiscoveredit。
　　Itplacedmeinamiserablelight。WhenColtonhaddeclared，ashehadinbothourinterviews，thattheLanewasanuisanceIhadloftilydeniedtheassertion。Nowthoseidiotsinthevillageweredoingtheirbesttoprovemealiar。IshouldhaveexpectedsuchbehaviorfromHalletandhisfriends，butforCaptainDeantotacitlyapprovetheirconductwasunexpectedandprovoking。Well，Ihadmademypositionplain，atallevents。ButIknewthatTimwoulddistortmywordsandthattheideaofmy"standingin"withtheColtons，whileprofessingindependence，wouldberevived。I
　　wasdestinedtobedetestedandmisunderstoodbybothsides。Yes，DorindawasrightinsayingthatImightfindsittingonthefenceuncomfortable。Itwasallofthat。
　　Ienteredthegroveandwasstridingon，headdown，busywiththeseandsimilarreflections，whensomeonesaid："Goodmorning，Mr。
　　Paine。"
　　Istoppedshort，cameoutofthedaydreaminwhichIhadbeengivingCaptainJedmyopinionofhisfollowers’behavior，lookedup，andsawMissColtoninthepathbeforeme。
　　Shewasdressedinwhite，alight，simplesummergown。Herstrawhatwassimplealso，expensivesimplicitydoubtless，butwithoutatraceofthehorticulturalexhibitswithwhichOlindaCahoon，ourDenboromilliner，waswonttodeckthecreationsshepreparedforcustomers。MatildaDeanwouldhavesniffedatthehatandgown；
　　theywerenotnearlyaselaborateasthoseNellie，herdaughter，woreonSundays。ButMatildaorNellieattheirgrandestcouldnothaveappearedaswelldressedasthisgirl，nomatterwhatshewore。Justnowshelooked，asLuteorDorindamighthavesaid，"asifshecameoutofabandbox。"
　　"Goodmorning，"shesaid，again。Shewasperfectlyself—possessed。
　　RemembranceofourtransitofMullet’scranberrybrookdidnotseemtoembarrassherintheleast。NellieDeanwouldhavegiggledandblushed，butshedidnot。
　　_I_wasembarrassed，Iadmitit，butIhadsufficientpresenceofmindtoremovemyhat。
　　"Goodmorning，"saidI。ThereflashedthroughmymindthethoughtthatifshehadbeeninthatgroveforanylengthoftimeshemusthaveoverheardmylivelyinterviewwithKendrickandTimHallet。I
　　wonderedifshehad。
　　Hernextremarksettledthatquestion。
　　"Isuppose，"shesaid，soberly，butwiththesametwinkleinhereyewhichIhadobservedonceortwiceinherfather’s，"thatI
　　shouldapologizeforbeinghere，onyourproperty，Mr。Paine。I
　　judgethatyoudon’tliketrespassers。"
　　IwasmorenettledatZebandhiscrowdthanever。"Soyousawthatperformance，"Isaid。"I’msorry。"
　　"Isawalittleofit，andI’mafraidIheardtherest。IwaswalkingherebythebluffandIcouldnothelpseeingandhearing。"
　　"Humph！Well，Ihopeyouunderstand，MissColton，thatIdidnotknow，untiljustnow，thissortofthingwasgoingon。"
　　Shesmiled。"Oh，Iunderstandthat，"shesaid。"Youmadethatquiteplain。Eventhosepeopleinthewagonunderstoodit，I
　　shouldimagine。"
　　"Ihopetheydid。"
　　"Ididnotknowyoucouldbesofierce，Mr。Paine。Ihadnotexpectedit。Youalmostfrightenedme。Youweresovery——well，mildandlong—sufferingontheotheroccasionswhenwemet。"
　　"Iamnotalwayssomild，MissColton。However，ifIhadknownyouwerewithinhearingImightnothavebeenquitesoemphatic。"
　　"ThenIamgladyoudidn’tknow。Ithinkthoseruffiansweretreatedastheydeserved。"
　　"Nothalfastheydeserved。IshallwatchfromnowonandifthereareanymoreattemptsatannoyingyouoryourpeopleIshalldomorethantalk。"
　　"Thankyou。Theyhavebeentroublesome——oflate。Iamsureweareverymuchobligedtoyou，allofus。"
　　"Notatall。"
　　"Ohyes，weare。Notonlyforthis，butfor——alltherest。Foryourhelptheothernightespecially；Iwanttothankyouforthat。"
　　"Itwasnothing，"Ianswered，awkwardly。
　　"Nothing！Youarenotverycomplimentary，Mr。Paine。"
　　"Imean——thatis，I——"
　　"Youmayconsiderrescuingshipwreckedyoungladies，afloatandashore，nothing——perhapsyoudoitsooftenthatitisoflittleconsequencetoyou；butIamnotsomodest。Iestimatemysafetyasworthsomething，evenifyoudonot。"
　　"Ididnotmeanthat，ofcourse，MissColton。YouknowIdidnot。
　　Imeantthat——thatwhatIdidwasnomorethananyoneelsewouldhavedoneunderthesamecircumstances。Youwereinnodanger；youwouldhavebeensafeenoughevenifIhadnothappenedalong。
　　Pleasedon’tsayanythingmoreaboutit。"
　　"Verywell。ButIamverygladyouhappenedalong，nevertheless。
　　Youseemtohavethefacultyofhappeningalongjustattherighttime。"
　　Thissoundedlikeareferencetotheepisodeinthebay，andIdidnotcaretodiscussthat。
　　"You——Ibelieveyourfathersaidyouwerenotillafteryourexperience，"Iobservedhastily。
　　"Notintheleast，thankyou。Andyou？"
　　"Oh，Iwasallright。Ratherwet，butIdidnotmindthat。Isailandfishagooddeal，andwater，freshorsalt，doesn’ttroubleme。"
　　Thiswasanunluckyremark，foritleddirectlytothesubjectI
　　wastryingtoavoid。
　　"SoIshouldimagine，"sheanswered。"AndthatremindsmethatI
　　oweyouanotherdebtofthanksforhelpingme——helpingusoutofourdifficultyintheboat。Iamobligedtoyouforthatalso。
　　EventhoughwhatyousavedwasNOTworthfivedollars。"
　　Ilookedupatherquickly。Shewasbitingherlipsandtherewasasmileatthecornersofhermouth。Icouldnotanswerimmediatelyforthelifeofme。IwouldhavegivensomethingifI
　　hadnottoldColtonofVictor’smessageandmyreply。
　　"Yourfathermisrepresentedmymeaning，I’mafraid，"Istammered。
　　"IwasangrywhenIsentthatmessage。Itwasnotintendedtoincludeyou。"
　　"Thankyou。Fatherseemedinclinedtoagreewithyourestimate——
　　partofit，atleast。Heisverymuchinterestedinyou，Mr。
　　Paine。"
　　"Yes，"Ianswered，dryly。"Icanunderstandthat。"
　　Hersmilebrokeintoarippleoflaughter。
　　"Youarequitedistinctive，inyourway，"shesaid。"Youmaynotbeawareofit，butIhaveneverknownfathertobesodisturbedandpuzzledaboutanyoneasheisaboutyou。"
　　"Indeed？"
　　"Yes，heis，indeed。"
　　"IamsorrythatIamthecauseofsomuchmentalstrain。"
　　"No，youarenot。FromwhatIhavelearnedaboutyou，fromhim，I
　　thinkyouenjoyit。Youmust。Itisgreatfun。"
　　"Fun！Well，perhaps。Doesyour——doesMrs。Coltonfinditfunny？"
　　Shehesitated。"Well，"sheanswered，moreslowly，"tobeperfectlyfrank——Ipresumethatiswhatyouwantmetobe——IthinkMotherblamesyousomewhat。Sheisnotwell，Mr。Paine，andthisLaneofyoursisherpetbugbearjustnow。She——liketherestofus——
　　cannotunderstandwhyyouwillnotsell，and，becauseyouwillnot，sheisrather——rather——"
　　"Isee。I’mnotsurethatIblameher。IpresumeshehasblamedmefortheseoutrageousdisturbancesintheLanesuchasyouhavejustwitnessed。"
　　Shehesitatedagain。"Whyyes，"shesaid，moreslowlystill；"alittle，Ithink。Sheisnotwell，asIsaid，andshemayhavethoughtyouwere，ifnotinstigatingthem，atleastawareofwhatwasgoingon。ButIamsurefatherdoesnotthinkso。"
　　"Butyou，MissColton；didyoubelievemeresponsibleforthem？"
　　"No。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Because，fromwhatIhaveseenofyou，youdidnotseemtomelikethatkindofaman。Youkeptyourtemperthatdayintheboat，thoughyouhadagoodreasonforlosingit。Allthis，"withagesturetowardtheLane，"theshoutingandnoiseandpettyinsults，wassolittleandmeanandcommon。Ididnotbelieveyouwouldpermitit，ifyouknew。And，fromwhatIhavelearnedaboutyou，I
　　wassureyouwouldnot。"
　　"Fromwhatyoulearnedaboutme？Fromyourfather？"
　　"No。"
　　"Thenfromwhom，pray？"
　　"Fromyourfriends。FromthatMr。TaylorandMissDeanandtheothers。Theyspokeofyousohighly，andofyourmotherandyourcareofher。Theydescribedyouasagentleman，andnogentlemanwouldcountenanceTHAT。"
　　IwassoastonishedthatIblurtedoutmynextquestionwithoutthinking。
　　"YouwerespeakingtothemaboutME？"Icried。
　　Hermannerchanged。PossiblyshethoughtIwaspresumingonourchanceacquaintance，orthatshemadeamistakeinadmittingevenacasualinterest；Imightconsiderthatinteresttobereal，insteadofmerelyperfunctory。Atanyrate，Inoticedadifferenceinhertone。Itwasasifshehadsuddenlywithdrawnbehindthefencewhichmarkedtheborderofoursocialline。
　　"Oh，"shesaid，carelessly，"Ididnotcross—question，ofcourse。
　　Puzzlesarealwaysinteresting，moreorless。Andapuzzlewhichperplexedmyfatherwascertainlyunique。SoIwasatriflecurious，that’sall。"
　　Icametoearthwithathud。
　　"Isee，"Isaid，curtly。"Well，IpresumeIshouldthankmyfriendsforthetestimonialstomycharacter。AndIpromiseyouthatyoushallnotbeannoyedagain。Goodmorning，MissColton。"
　　Iwasturningawaywhenshespokemyname。
　　"Mr。Paine，"shesaid。
　　"Yes，MissColton。"
　　"IhavenotexplainedwhyIwashere，onyourland，thismorning。"
　　"Thatisallright。Youarequitewelcometobehereatanytime。"
　　"Thankyou。ItoldyouIwaswalkingbythebluff；thatistrue，butitisn’tthewholetruth。Iwastryingtomustercouragetocallonyourmother。"
　　Ilookedatherinamazement。
　　"CallonMother！"Irepeated。
　　"Yes，Ihaveheardagreatdealaboutyourmother，andnothingexcepttheverybest。IthinkIshouldliketoknowher。DoyouthinkshewouldconsidermepresumingandintrusiveifIdidcall？"
　　"Why，MissColton，I——"
　　"Pleasebefrankaboutit，Mr。Paine。Andpleasebelievethatmycallwouldnotbefromidlecuriosity。Ishouldliketoknowher。
　　Ofcourse，ifthisdisagreementaboutthelandmakesadifference，ifshefeelsresentfultowardus，Iwillnotthinkofsuchathing。
　　Doesshe？Whydoyousmile？Iaminearnest。"
　　"Ididnotmeantosmile，MissColton。TheideaofMother’sfeelingresentmenttowardanyoneseemedabsurdtome，thatwasall。"
　　"ThenmayIcallonher？"
　　"Certainly。Thatis，if——ifyouthinkitwise。Ifyourmother——"
　　"Oh，Motherhaslongagogivenuptryingtosolveme。Iamagreaterpuzzletoherthanyouseemtobetoeveryone，Mr。Paine。
　　Ihavespokentomyfatheraboutitandheisquitewilling。Hisdifferencewithyouispurelyabusinessone，asyouknow。"
　　Someofthe"business"hadbeenoddlyconducted，butIdidnotraisethepoint。Icouldnotreasonjustthen。Thatthisspoiled，city—breddaughterof"BigJim"Coltonshouldwishtoknowmymotherwasbeyondreasoning。
　　Shesaidgoodmorningandweparted。Iwalkedhome，rackingmybrainstofindtheanswertothisnewconundrum。Itwasawhimonherpart，ofcourse，inspiredbysomethingGeorgeorNelliehadtoldher。Ididnotknowwhethertoresentthewhimornot，whethertobeangryorindifferent。IfsheintendedtoinspectMotherasapossibleobjectoffuturecharityIshouldbeangryandthefirstcallwouldbethelast。ButMotherherselfwouldsettleallquestionsofcharity；Iknewthat。Andthegirlhadnotspokeninapatronizingway。Shehaddeclaredthatidlecuriosityhadnopartinherwish。Sheseemedinearnest。WhatwouldMothersaywhenItoldher？
　　LutewasjustcomingthroughthegateasIapproachedit。Hewasinhighgoodhumor。
　　"I’mgoin’upstreet，"hedeclared。"Anythingyouwantmetofetchyoufromthestore，Ros？"
　　Ilookedatmywatch。Itwasonlyeleveno’clock。
　　"Upstreet？"Irepeated。"Ithoughtyouwereslatedtowashwindowsthisforenoon。IheardDorindagiveyouyourorderstothateffect。Youhaven’tfinishedwashingthemalready？"
　　"No，"withabroadgrin，"Iain’tfinished’em。Factis，Iain’tbegun’emyet。"
　　"So！DoesDorindaknowthatyouaregoingupstreet？"
　　"Um—hm。Sheknows。Anyhow，sheknowsI’mgoin’somewheres。Shetoldmetogoherself。"
　　"Shedid！Why？"
　　"Don’taskME。Iwasallreadytowashthewindows；hadthebucketpumpedfullandeverything。ButwhenIcomeintothedinin’—roomshesungouttoknowwhatIwasdoin’withallthatwateronhercleanfloor。’Why，Dorindy！’Isays，’I’ma—goin’towashthemwindowssame’syoutoldmeto。’’No，youain’t，’saysshe。’ButwhatwillIdo？’saysI。’Idon’tcare，’saysshe。’Clearoutofhere，that’sall。’’Butwhere’llIclearoutto？’Iwantedtoknow。’Idon’tcare！’shesnapsagain，savageasasettin’hen，’solong’syouclearoutofmysight。’SohereIbe。Don’taskmewhyshechangedhermind：_I_don’tknow。Nothin’youwanttothestore？"
　　"No。"
　　"Say，Ros，youknowwhatIthink？"
　　"Farbeitfrommetopresumetoguessyourthoughts，Lute。"
　　"Well，Ithinkthisisastrangeworldandthestrangestthinginitisawoman。Younevercantellwhatthey’lldotenminutesatastretch。I——"
　　"Allright，Lute。I’llheartherestofthephilosophylater。"
　　"Philosophyornot，it’sthelivin’truth。Andwhenyou’reasoldasIbeyou’llknowit。"
　　Iwentinthroughthedining—room，steeringclearofDorinda，whoscarcelylookedupfromherfloorscrubbing。
　　"Mother，"saidI，enteringthedarkenedbedroom，"IjustmettheColtongirlandwhatdoyousupposeshetoldme？"
　　"Thatshewasverygratefultoyouforcomingtoherrescuetheothernight。"
　　"That，ofcourse。Butshetoldmesomethingelse。Shesaidshewascomingtocallonyou。OnYOU，Mother！"
　　Idon’tknowwhatanswerIexpected。Iflungtheannouncementlikeabombshellandwasreadyforalmostanysortofexplosionatall。
　　"Didshe？"observedMother，placidly。"Iamveryglad。IhavenodoubtIshalllikeher。"
　　MynextremarkhadnothingtodowithMissColton。
　　"Well，byGeorge！"Iexclaimed，withemphasis。"LuteISaphilosopher，afterall。Itakeoffmyhattohim。"
　　CHAPTERXI
　　ImetMabelColtonseveraltimesduringthefollowingweek。Once，attheplacewhereIhadmetherbefore，inthegrovebytheedgeofthebluff，andagainwalkinguptheLaneincompanywithherfather。OncealsoontheLowerRoad，thoughthatcouldscarcelybecalledameeting，forIwasafootandsheandherfatherandmotherwereintheautomobile。
　　Onlyatthemeetinginthegrovewerewordsexchangedbetweenus。
　　Shebowedpleasantlyandcommentedonthewonderfulview。
　　"Iamtrespassingagain，yousee，"shesaid。"Takingadvantageofyourgood—nature，Mr。Paine。ThisspotisthemostattractiveI
　　havefoundinDenboro。"
　　Iobservedthattheviewfromherverandasmustbealmostthesame。
　　"Almost，butnotquite，"shesaid。"Thesepinesshutofftheinletbelow，andallthelittlefishingboats。Oneofthemisyours，I
　　suppose。Which？"
　　"Thatismylaunchthere，"Ireplied，pointing。
　　"Thelittlewhiteone？Youbuiltityourself，IthinkFathersaid。"
　　"Hewasmistaken，ifhesaidthat。Iamnotcleverenoughtobuildaboat，MissColton。IboughttheComfort，second—hand。"
　　Idon’tknowwhyIaddedthe"second—hand。"ProbablybecauseIhadnotyetfreedmymindfromthebitterness——yes，andenvy——whichthesightofthisgirlandherpeoplealwaysbroughtwithit。ItiscomparativelyeasytobefreefromenvyifoneiswhatGeorgeTaylortermeda"never—was"；fora"hasbeen"itisharder。
　　Theboat’snamewastheonlyportionofmyremarkwhichattractedherattention。
　　"TheComfort？"sherepeated。"Thatisajollynameforapleasureboat。"
　　"Itismymother’sname，"Ianswered。
　　"Isit？Why，Iremembernow。MissDeantoldme。Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Paine。Itisaprettyname，atallevents。"
　　"Thankyou。"
　　"ImusthavemisunderstoodFather。Iwassurehesaidthatboatbuildingwasyourbusiness。"
　　"No。Hesawmeoverhaulingtheengine，andperhapsthatgavehimtheimpressionthatIwasabuilder。ItoldhimIwasnot，butnodoubtheforgot。Ihavenobusiness，MissColton。"
　　Ithinkshewassurprised。Sheglancedatmecuriouslyandherlipsopenedasiftoaskanotherquestion。Shedidnotaskithowever，and，exceptforacasualremarkortwoabouttheviewandthebluenessofthewaterinthebay，shesaidnothingmore。I
　　ratherexpectedshewouldrefertoherintentionofcallingonMother，butshedidnotmentionthesubject。Iinferredthatshehadthoughtbetterofherwhim。
　　Ontheotheroccasionswhenwemetshemerelybowed。"BigJim"
　　noddedcarelessly。Mrs。Colton，fromherseatintheauto，noddedalso，thoughhermajesticbowcouldscarcelybetermedanod。Itwasmoreliketheacknowledgment，byaqueeninherchariot，oftheapplaudingcitizenonthesidewalk。Shesawme，andshedeignedtoletmeknowthatIwasseen，thatwasall。
　　ButwhenIinferredthatherdaughterhadforgotten，orhaddecidednottomakethecallatourhouse，Imisjudgedtheyounglady。I
　　returned，oneafternoon，fromacruiseupanddownthebayintheComfort，tofindoursmallestablishment——theRogersportionofit，atleast——inahighstateofexcitement。LuteandDorindawereinthekitchenandbeforeIreachedthebackdoor，whichwasopen，I
　　heardtheirvoicesinanimateddiscussion。
　　"Whywouldn’tIsayit，Dorinda？"pleadedLute。"Youcan’tblamemenone。ThereIwas，withmysleevesrolledupandjustsettin’
　　inthechair，restin’myarmsajiffyandthinkin’whichwindowI’dwashnext，whentherecomethatknockatthedoor。ThinksI，’It’sAsaPeters’daughter’syoung—onepeddlin’clams。’That’swhatcometomymindfust。Thatideepoppedrightintomyhead，itdid。"
　　"Foundplentyofroomwhenitgotthere，Ical’late，"snappedDorinda。"Musthavefeltlonesome。"
　　"That’sit！keeponpitchin’intome。Iswantoman！sometimesI
　　getsodiscouragedandworeoutandreckless——hello！here’sRos。
　　Youaskhimnow！Ros，she’slayin’intomebecauseIdidn’tunderstandwhat——"
　　"Roscoe，"brokeinhiswife，"Ineverwasmoremortifiedinallmyborndays。He——"
　　"Letmetellyouallaboutit，Ros。Iwenttothedoor——thinkin’
　　’twasapeddler，youknow；hadthisoldsuiton，allsloshedupwithsoapsudsandwater，andawetraginmyhand；andthereshestood，styledupliketheQueenofSheby。Well，sir！I’llleaveittoyouif’tain’tenoughtosurpriseanybody。HER！comin’HERE！"
　　"Thatwan’tanyreasonwhyyoushouldbehavelikeanaturalborn——"
　　"Holdon！youletmefinishtellin’Roscoe。’Goodafternoon，’saysshe。’IsMrs。Painein？’Saiditjustlikethat，shedid。IwassoflusteredupfromthesightofherthatIdidn’tsenseitrightoffandIsays，’Whatma’am？’’IsMrs。Painein？’saysshe。’In？’
　　saysI——"
　　"Justlikeapollparrot，"interjectedDorinda。
　　"Areyougoin’toletmetellthisorain’tyou？’In？’saysI；
　　hadn’tsensedityet，yousee。’IsMrs。Painetohome？’shesays。
　　Nowyourma，Ros，ain’tneverbeennowhereselseBUThomesencelandknowswhen，soIsupposedshemustmeansomebodyelse。’Who？’
　　saysI，again。’Mrs。ComfortPaine，’saysshe。Sheraisedhervoicealittle；guessedIwasdeef，probably。"
　　"Ifshe’dguessedyouwasdumbshewouldn’thavebeenfuroff，"
　　commentedDorinda。Ihadnotseenhersodisturbedformanyaday。
　　Herhusbanddisdainedtonoticethisinterruption。
　　"’Mrs。ComfortPaine，’saysshe，"hecontinued。"’Sheisin？AndIsays’In？’"
　　"No，youdidn’t。Yousaid，’Inwhere？’Andshehadallshecoulddotokeepfromlaughin’。IseeherfaceasIgottothedoor，andit’samercyIgottherewhenIdid。Landknowswhatyou’dhavesaidnext！"
　　"But，Dorindy，ItellyouIthought——"
　　"YOUthought！IknowwhatSHEmusthavethought。Thatshe’dmadeamistakeandrunafoulofanasylumforthefeeble—minded。"
　　"Umph！IshouldhaveGOTfeeble—mindedifI’dhadanymoreofthatkindoftalk。WhatmadeheraskifasickwomanlikeComfortwas’in’and’tohome’？Couldn’tbenowhereselse，couldshe？"
　　"Rubbish！shemeantcouldMrs。Paineseefolks，that’sall。"
　　"See’em！Howyoutalk！Sheain’tblind。"
　　"Oh，mysoulandbody！Shewastryin’toaskifshemightmakeacallonComfort。"
　　"Wellthen，whydidn’tsheaskit；’steadofwantin’toknowifshewasin？"
　　"That’sthehigh—tonedwayTOask，andyou’doughttohaveknownit。"
　　"Humph！Dotell！Well，Iain’ttony，myself。Don’thavenochancetobeinthishouse。Nothin’butwork，work，work！tongue，tongue，tongue！formearoundhere。I’mdisgusted，that’swhatI
　　am。"
　　"YOU’REdisgusted！Whatabout，me？"
　　IhadlistenedtoasmuchofthislittledomesticdisagreementasI
　　caredtohear。
　　"Waitaminute，"Isaid。"Whatisallthis？WhohasbeenheretoseeMother？"
　　Bothansweredatonce。
　　"ThatColtongirl，"criedLute。
　　"ThatMabelColton，"saidDorinda。
　　"MissColton？Shehasbeenhere？thisafternoon。"
　　"Um—hm，"Dorindanoddedemphatically。"Shestayedinyourma’sroom’mostanhour。"
　　"’Twasfifty—threeminutes，"declaredLute。"Itimedherbytheclock。"Andshefetchedagreat，bigbouquet。Comfortsaysshe——"
　　Iwaitedtohearnomore，butwentintoMother’sroom。Thelittlebedchamberwasfragrantwiththeperfumeofflowers。AclusterofbigJacqueminotrosesdroopedtheirvelvetypetaledheadsoverthesidesoftheblueandwhitepitcheronthebureau。MotherlovedflowersandIfrequentlybroughthertheoldfashionedposiesfromDorinda’slittlegardenorwildblossomsfromthewoodsandfields。
　　Butrosessuchasthesewerebeyondmyreachnow—a—days。Theygrewingreenhouses，notinthegardensofcountrypeople。
　　MotherdidnotmoveasIenteredandIthoughtshewasasleep。ButasIbentovertherosessheturnedonthepillowandspoke。
　　"Aren’ttheybeautiful，Roscoe？"shesaid。
　　"Yes，"Ianswered。"Theyarebeautiful。"
　　"Doyouknowwhobroughtthemtome？"
　　"Yes，Mother。Lutetoldme。"