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。\"