Ithadbeenfeltvaguelywhenthenewyoungladyfrom\"Meriker\"
hadwalkedthroughthevillagestreet，andhaddrawnpeopletodoorsandwindowsbyhermerepassing。AfterthereturnfromLondonthesignsofactivityweresuchasmadethevillagerscatchtheirbreathsinutteringuncertainexclamations，andcausedthefeminineelementtocatchupoffspringor，draggingitbyitshand，runintoneighbours’cottagesandstandtalkingtheincrediblethingoverinloweredandratherbreathlessvoices。
Yettheincrediblethinginquestionwas——haditbeenseenfromthestandpointofmoreprosperousvillagers——anythingbutextraordinary。InentirelyruralplacestheCastle，theHallortheManor，theGreatHouse——inshort——stillretainssomewhatoftheoldfeudalpowertobestowbenefitsorwithholdthem。WealthandgoodwillattheManorsupplyworkandresultantcomfortinthevillageanditssurroundingholdings。PatronisedbytheGreatHousethetwoorthreesmallvillageshopsbestirthemselvesandawakentoactivity。
Theblacksmithswingshishammerwithrenewedspiritoverthenumerousjobsthegentry’sstables，carriagehouses，gardentools，andhouseholdrepairsgivetohim。Thecarpentermendsandmakes，thevicaragefeelsatease，realisingthatitschurchanditscharitiesdonotstandunsupported。Smallfarmersandlargerones，underarichandinterestedlandlord，thriveandareabletoholdtheirownevenagainstthetricksofwindandweather。Farmlabourersbeing，asaresult，certainofsteadyanddecentwage，trudgetoandfro，withstolidcheerfulness，knowingthatthepotboilsandthechildren’sfeetareshod。
SuperannuatedoldmenandwomenaresureoftheirbrothandSundaydinner，andtheirdreadoftheimpending\"Union\"
fadesaway。Thesquireormylordormyladycanbedependedupontocarefortheiroldbonesuntiltheyarelaidunderthesodinthegreenchurchyard。WithwealthandgoodwillattheGreatHouse，lifewarmsandoffersprospects。ThereareChristmasfeastsandgiftsandvillagetreats，andthebigcarriageorthesmalleronesstopatcottagedoorsandatonceconferexcitingdistinctionandcarrygoodcheer。
ButStornhamvillagehadscarcelyaremotememoryofanyperiodofsuchprosperity。IthadnotexistedevenintheolderSirNigel’stime，andcertainlythepresentSirNigel’sreignhadbeenmarkedonlybyneglect，ill—temper，indifference，andafallingintodisorderanddecay。Farmswerepoorlyworked，labourerswereunemployed，therewasnotradefromthemanorhousehold，nocarriages，nohorses，nocompany，nospendingofmoney。Cottagesleaked，floorsweredamp，thechurchroofitselfwasfallingtopieces，andthevicarhadnothingtogive。
Thehelplessandoldcottagerswerecarriedtothe\"Union\"and，dyingthere，wereburiedbythestintedparishinparishcoffins。
Herladyshiphadnotvisitedthecottagessinceherchild’sbirth。AndnowsuchinspiritingeventsaswereeverydayhappeningsinluckyplaceslikeWesterbridgeandWratchamandYangford，showedsignsofbeingabouttooccurinStornhamitself。
Tobeginwith，evenbeforethejourneytoLondon，KedgershadmadetwoorthreevisitstoTheClock，andhadbeeninacommunicativemood。Hehadrelatedthestoryofthemorningwhenhehadlookedupfromhisworkandhadfoundthestrangeyoungladystandingbeforehim，withtheresultthathehadbeen\"struckallofaheap。\"Andthenhehadgivenadetailedaccountoftheirwalkroundtheplace，andofthewayinwhichshehadlookedatthingsandaskedquestions，suchaswouldhavedonecredittoaman\"witha’eadon’im。\"
\"Nay！Nay！\"commentedKedgers，shakinghisownheaddoubtfully，evenwhilewithadmiration。\"I’veneverseenthelikebefore——inyoungwomen——neitherinladyyoungwomennorinthemthat’sotherwise。\"
AfterwardshadtranspiredthestoryofMrs。Noakes，andthekitchengrate，Mrs。NoakeshavingafriendinMissLupin，thevillagedressmaker。
\"I’dnotputitpasther，\"wasMrs。Noakes’summingup，\"toorderanewone，Iwouldn’t。\"
Thefootmanintheshabbyliveryhadbeenalittlewildinhisstatements，beingrenderedsobytheadmiringandexcitedstateofhismind。Hedweltuponthematterofher\"looks，\"andthewayshelightedupthedingydining—room，andsoconversedthatamanfoundhimselflisteningandglancingwhenitwashisbusinesstobeanunhearing，unseeingpieceofmechanism。
Suchsimplerecordsofservitors’impressionswerequiteenoughforStornhamvillage，andproducedinitasenseofbeingrousedalittlefromsleeptolistentodistantanduncomprehended，butnotunagreeable，sounds。
OnemorningButtle，thecarpenter，lookedupasKedgershaddone，andsawstandingonthethresholdofhisshopthetallyoungwoman，whowasasensationandaneventinherself。
\"Youarethemasterofthisshop？\"sheasked。
Buttlecameforward，touchinghisbrowinhastysalute。
\"Yes，mylady，\"heanswered。\"JosephButtle，yourladyship。\"
\"IamMissVanderpoel，\"dismissingthesuddenlybestowedtitlewitheasydirectness。\"Areyoubusy？Iwanttotalktoyou。\"
Noonehadanyreasontobe\"busy\"atanytimeinStornhamvillage，nosuchluck；butButtledidnotsmileasherepliedthathewasatlibertyandplacedhimselfathisvisitor’sdisposal。Thetallyoungladycameintothelittleshop，andtookthechairrespectfullyofferedtoher。Buttlesawhereyessweeptheplaceasiftakinginitsresources。
\"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomeworkwhichmustbedoneattheCourt，\"sheexplainedatonce。\"Iwanttoknowhowmuchcanbedonebyworkmenofthevillage。Howmanymenhaveyou？\"
\"Howmanymenhadhe？\"Buttlewaveredbetweengratificationatitsbeingsupposedthathehad\"men\"underhimandgrumpydepressionbecausetheillusionmustbedispelled。
\"There’smeandSimSoames，miss，\"heanswered。\"Nomore，an’noless。\"
\"Wherecanyougetmore？\"askedMissVanderpoel。
ItcouldnotbedeniedthatButtlereceivedamentalshockwhichvergedinitssuddennessonbeingalmostaphysicalone。
Thepromptnessanddecisionofsuchaqueryswepthimoffhisfeet。ThatSimSoamesandhimselfshouldbeaninsufficientforcetocombatwithsuchrepairsastheCourtcouldaffordwasanideapresentinganaspectofunheard—ofnovelty，butthatmethodsascoollyradicalasthosethisquestioningimplied，shouldberesortedto，wasstaggering。
\"MeandSimhasalwaysdonewhatworkwasdone，\"hestammered。
\"Ithasn’tbeenmuch。\"
MissVanderpoelneitherassentedtonordissentedfromthislastpalpabletruth。SheregardedButtlewithsearchingeyes。
Shewaswonderingifanypracticalabilityconcealeditselfbehindhisdullness。Ifshegavehimwork，couldhedoit？Ifshegavethewholevillagework，wasittoofargoneinitsunspurredstodginesstoberousedtocarryingitout？
\"Thereisagreatdealtobedonenow，\"shesaid。\"Allthatcanbedoneinthevillageshouldbedonehere。Itseemstomethatthevillagerswantwork——newwork。Dothey？\"
Work！Newwork！ThesparkoflifeinhersteadyeyesactuallylightedasparkinthebeingofJoeButtle。Youngladiesinvillages——gentry——usuallyvisitedthecottagersabitiftheywerewell—meaningyoungwomen——leftgoodbooksandbrothorjelly，potteredaboutandwereseenatchurch，andplayingcroquet，andfinallymarriedandremovedtootherplaces，orgraduallyfadedyearbyyearintorespectablespinsterhood。Andthisonecomesin，andintwoorthreeminutesshowsthatsheknowsthingsabouttheplaceandunderstands。
Amanmightthentakeitforgrantedthatshewouldunderstandthethinghedaringlygatheredcouragetosay。
\"Theywantanywork，miss——thattheyaresureofdecentpayfor——sureofit。\"
Shedidunderstand。Andshedidnottreathisimplicationasanimpertinence。Sheknewitwasnotintendedasone，and，indeed，shesawinitasortofearnestofapossiblepracticalqualityinButtle。SuchworkastheCourthaddemandedhadremainedunpaidforwithquietpersistence，untilevenbillshadbeguntolagandfalloff。Shecouldseeexactlyhowithadbeendone，andcomprehendedquiteclearlyalackofenthusiasminthepresenceofordersfromtheGreatHouse。
\"Allworkwillbepaidfor，\"shesaid。\"Eachweektheworkmenwillreceivetheirwages。Theymaybesure。Iwillberesponsible。\"
\"Thankyou，miss，\"saidButtle，andhehalfunconsciouslytouchedhisforeheadagain。
\"Inaplacelikethis，\"theyoungladywentoninhermellowvoice，andwithareflectivethoughtfulnessinherhandsomeeyes，\"onanestatelikeStornham，noworkthatcanbedonebythevillagersshouldbedonebyanyoneelse。Thepeopleofthelandshouldbetrainedtodosuchworkasthemanorhouse，orcottages，orfarmsrequiretohavedone。\"
\"Howdidshethinkthatout？\"wasButtle’sreflection。InplacessuchasStornham，throughgenerationaftergeneration，thethingshehadjustsaidwasacceptedaslaw，clungtoasapossession，anydivergencefromitbeingagrievancesullenlyandbitterlygrumbledover。Andinplacesenoughtherewasdivergenceinthesedays——thegentrysendingtoLondonforthings，andhavingupworkmentodotheirbest—payingjobsforthem。Thelawhadbeensolongalawthatnovillagecouldseejusticeinoutsidersbeingsentfor，eventodoworktheycouldnotdowellthemselves。Itshowedwhatshewas，thishandsomeyoungwoman——eventhoughshedidcomefromAmerica——thatsheshouldknowwhatwasright。
Shetookanote—bookoutandopeneditontheroughtablebeforeher。
\"Ihavemadesomenoteshere，\"shesaid，\"andasketchortwo。Wemusttalkthemovertogether。\"
IfshehadgivenJoeButtlecauseforsurpriseattheoutset，shegavehimfurthercauseduringthenexthalf—hour。Theworkthatwastobedonewassuchasmadehimopenhiseyes，anddrawinhisbreath。Ifhewastobeallowedtodoit——ifhecoulddoit——ifitwastobepaidfor——itstruckhimthathewouldbeamansetupforlife。Ifherladyshiphadcomeandorderedittobedone，hewouldhavethoughtthepoorthinghadgonemad。Butthisonehaditalljotteddowninaclearhand，withouttheleastfeminineconfusionofdetail，andwithhereandtherealittlesharply—drawnsketch，suchasacarpenter，ifhecoulddraw，whichButtlecouldnot，mighthavemade。
\"There’snotworkmenenoughinthevillagetodoitinayear，miss，\"hesaidatlast，withagaspofdisappointment。
Shethoughtitoveraminute，herpencilpoisedinherhandandhereyesonhisface\"Canyou，\"shesaid，\"undertaketogetmenfromothervillages，andsuperintendwhattheydo？Ifyoucandothat，theworkisstillpassingthroughyourhands，andStornhamwillreapthebenefitofit。Yourworkmenwilllodgeatthecottagesandspendpartoftheirwagesattheshops，andyouwhoareaStornhamworkmanwillearnthemoneytobemadeoutofaratherlargecontract。\"
JoeButtlebecamequitehot。Ifyouhavebroughtupafamilyforyearsontheproceedsofsuchjobsasdrivingaten—
pennynailinhereorthere，tinkeringaholeinacottageroof，knockingupashelfinthevicaragekitchen，andmendingapaneloffence，tobesuddenlyconfrontedwithaproposaltoengageworkmenandundertake\"contracts\"isshorteningtothebreathandheatingtotheblood。
\"Miss，\"hesaid，\"we’veneverdonebigjobs，SimSoamesan’me。
P’rapswe’renotuptoit——butit’dbeafortunetous。\"
Shewaslookingdownatoneofherpapersandmakingpencilmarksonit。
\"YoudidsomeworklastyearonalittlehouseatTidhurst，didn’tyou？\"shesaid。
Tothinkofherknowingthat！Yes，theunaccountablegoodluckhadactuallycometohimthattwoTidhurstcarpenters，fallingillofthesametyphoidatthesametime，throughlivingsidebysideinthesameorderofunsanitarycottage，heandSimhadbeengiventheirworktofinish，andhaddonetheirbest。
\"Yes，miss，\"heanswered。
\"IheardthatwhenIwasinquiringaboutyou。IdroveovertoTidhursttoseethework，anditwasverysoundandwelldone。Ifyoudidthat，IcanatleasttrustyoutodosomethingattheCourtwhichwillprovetomewhatyouareequalto。IwantaStornhammantoundertakethis。\"
\"NoTidhurstman，\"saidJoeButtle，withsuddencourage，\"noryetnoBarnhurst，noryetnoYangford，norWratchamshalldoit，ifIcanlookitintheface。It’sStornhamworkandStornhamhadoughttohaveit。Itgivesmeabrace—uptohearofit。\"
Thetallyoungladylaughedbeautifullyandgotup。
\"CometotheCourtto—morrowmorningatten，andwewilllookitovertogether，\"shesaid。\"Good—morning，Buttle。\"
Andshewentaway。
InthetaproomofTheClock，whenJoeButtledroppedinforhispotofbeer，hefoundFox，thesaddler，andTread，theblacksmith，andeachofthemfellupontheotherswithsomethingofthesamestorytotell。ThenewyoungladyfromtheCourthadbeentoseethem，too，andhadbroughttoeachherdefinitelittlenote—book。Harnesswastoberepairedandfurbishedup，thebigcarriageandtheoldphaetonweretobeputinorder，andMasterUghtred’scartwastobegivennewpaintandsprings。
\"Thisiswhatshesaid，\"Fox’sstoryran，\"andshesaiditsostraightforwardandbusiness—likethattheconceitedestmanthatlivedcouldn’tbeupsetbyit。`Iwanttoseewhatyoucando，’shesays。`IamnewtotheplaceandImustfindoutwhateveryonecando，thenIshallknowwhattodomyself。’Thewayshesetsthemeyesonamanisasight。It’sthesenseinthemandthehumannaturethattakesyou。\"
\"Yes，it’sthesense，\"saidTread，\"andherlookingatyouasifsheexpectedyoutohavesenseyourself，andunderstandthatshe’sdoingfairbusiness。It’sclear—headedlike——heraskingquestionsandfindingoutwhatStornhammencando。
She’shavingtheoldthingsdoneupsothatshecanfindout，andsothatshecanprovethattheCourtworkisgoingtobepaidfor。That’smybelief。\"
\"Butwhatdoesitallmean？\"saidJoeButtle，settinghispotofbeerdownonthetaproomtable，roundwhichtheysatinconclave。\"Where’sthemoneycomingfrom？There’smoneysomewhere。\"
Treadwastheadvancedthinkerofthevillage。Hehadcome——throughreverses——fromabiggerplace。Hereadthenewspapers。
\"It’llcomefromwhereit’sgotawayofcoming，\"hegaveforthportentously。\"It’llcomefromAmerica。Howtheymanagetogetholdofsomuchofitthereispastme。Butthey’vegotit，dang’em，andthey’rereadytospenditforwhattheywant，thoughthey’reasharplot。Twelveyearsagotherewasagoodbitoftalkaboutherladyship’sfatherbeingoneofthemwiththefullestpockets。Shecameherewithplenty，butSirNigelgotholdofitforhisgames，andthey’rethegamesthatcostmoney。Herladyshipwasn’tbornwithabackbone，poorthing，butthisnewonewas，andherladyship’sfatherisherfather，andyoumarkmywords，there’smoneycomingintoStornham，thoughit’snotgoingtobeplayedthefoolwith。
Lord，yes！thisnewonehasabackboneandgoodstrongwristsandagoodstronghead，thoughImustsay\"——withalittlemasculinechuckleofadmission——\"it’sabitunnaturalwiththemeyelashesandthemeyeslookingatyoubetween’em。
Likebluewaterbetweenrushesinthemarsh。\"
Beforethenexttwenty—fourhourshadpassedastillmoreunlooked—foreventhadtakenplace。Longoutstandingbillshadbeenpaid，andinasmatter—of—factmannerasiftheyhadnotbeensentinandignored，insomecasesforyears。ThesettlementofJoeButtle’saccountsenthimtobedattheday’sendalmostlight—headed。Tobecomesuddenlythepossessorofthirty—sevenpounds，fifteenandtenpencehalf—penny，ofwhichallhopehadbeenlostthreeyearsago，wasalmosttoomuchforanyman。Sixpounds，eightpounds，tenpounds，cameintoplacesasifsovereignshadbeensixpences，andshillingsfarthings。
Morethanonecottagewoman，atthesightofthehoardedwealthinherstaringgoodman’shand，gulpedandbegantocry。Iftheyhadhaditbefore，andindriblets，itwouldhavebeenspentlongsince，now，inalump，itmeantshoesandpetticoatsandteaandsugarintemporaryabundance，andthesenseofthisabundancewasfelttobeentirelyduetoAmericanmagic。Americawas，infact，greatlylaudedanddiscussed，thecaseof\"Gaarge\"Lumsdenbeingmuchquoted。
CHAPTERXXI
KEDGERS
TheworkatStornhamCourtwentonsteadily，thoughwithnogreaterrapiditythanisusuallyachievedbyrurallabourers。
Therewas，however，withoutdoubt，acertainstimulusintheoccasionalappearanceofMissVanderpoel，whoalmostdailysaunteredroundtheplacetolookon，andexchangeafewwordswiththeworkmen。Whentheysawhercoming，themen，hastilystandinguptotouchtheirforeheads，wereconsciousofaslightaccelerationofbeingwhichwasnotquitetheordinaryquickeningproducedbythepresenceofemployers。Itwas，infact，asensationratherpleasingthananxious。Herinterestintheworkwas，uponthewhole，onewhichtheyfoundthemselvesbeginningtoshare。Theunusualnessofthesituation——ayoungwoman，whoevidentlystoodformanythingsandpowersdesirable，employinglabourersandseemingtoknowwhatsheintendedthemtodo——wasathingnoteasytogetover，orbecomeaccustomedto。Butthereshewas，aseasyandwellmanneredasyouplease——andwithgentlefolks’ways，though，asanAmerican，suchfinishcouldscarcelybeexpectedfromher。Shekneweachman’sname，itwasrevealedgradually，and，whatwasmore，knewwhathestoodforinthevillage，whatcottagehelivedin，howmanychildrenhehad，andsomethingabouthiswife。Sherememberedthingsandmadeinquirieswhichshowedknowledge。Besidesthis，sherepresented，thoughperhapstheywerescarcelyyetfullyawaketothefact，thepromisetheirdiscourageddulnesshadlonglostsightof。
Itactuallybecameapparentthatherladyship，whowalkedwithher，wasalteringdaybyday。Wasittruethatthebitofcolourtheyhadheardspokenofwhenshereturnedfromtownwasdeepeningandfixingitselfonhercheek？Itsometimeslookedlikeit。Wassheabitlessstiffandshy—likeandfrightenedinherway？ButtlementionedtohisfriendsatTheClockthathewassureofit。Shehadbeguntolookamaninthefacewhenshetalked，andmorethanoncehehadheardherlaughatthingshersistersaid。
Toonemanmorethantoanyotherhadcomeanalmostunspeakablepieceofluckthroughthenewarrival——athingwhichtohimself，atleast，wasastheopeningoftheheavens。ThismanwasthediscouragedKedgers。MissVanderpoel，comingwithherladyshiptotalktohim，foundthatthemanwasapersonofmoreexperiencethanmighthavebeenimagined。Inhisyouthhehadbeenanundergardeneratagreatplace，andbeingfondofhiswork，hadlearnedmorethanundergardenersoftenlearn。Hehadbeenoneofasmallarmyofworkersundertheordersofanimposingheadgardener，whoseknowledgewasascience。Hehadseenandtakenpartinwhatwasdoneinorchidhouses，orangeries，vineries，peachhouses，conservatoriesfullofwondroustropicalplants。Butitwasnoteasyforamanlikehimself，uneducatedandlackingconfidenceofcharacter，toadvanceasabolderyoungmanmighthavedone。Theall—rulingheadgardenerhadinspiredhimwithawe。Hehadwatchedhimreverently，accumulatingknowledge，butbeinggiven，asanunderling，noopportunitytodomorethanobeyorders。Hehadspenthislifeinobeying，andcongratulatedhimselfthatobediencesecuredhimhisweeklywage。
\"Hewasagreatman——Mr。Timson——hewas，\"hesaid，intalkingtoMissVanderpoel。\"Ay，hewasthat。Kneweverythingthatcouldhappentoafloweroras’ruboravegetable。
Knewitall。Hadalib’eryofbooksan’read’emnightan’
day。Headgardener’scottagewasgoodenoughforgentry。
TheoldMarkisusedtowalkroundthehothousesan’gardenstalkingtohimbythehour。IfyoudidwhathetoldyouEXACTLY
likehetoldittoyou，thenyouwereallright，butifyoudidn’t——well，youwasofftheplacebeforeyou’dtimetolookround。Workedunderhimfromtwentytoforty。Thenhediedan’
thenewonethatcameinhadnewways。Hemadeacleansweepofmostofus。ThemensaidhewasjealousofMr。Timson。\"
\"Thatwasbadforyou，ifyouhadawifeandchildren，\"
MissVanderpoelsaid。
\"Eightofustofeed，\"Kedgersanswered。\"Amanwiththatonhimcan’twait，miss。IhadtotakethefirstplaceIcouldget。Itwasn’tagoodone——poorparsonagewithabigfamilyan’notroomontheplaceforthevegetablestheywanted。Cabbages，an’potatoes，an’beans，an’broccoli。Notimenorgroundforflowers。Usedtoseemasifflowersgottobeakindofdream。\"Kedgersgaveventtoadeprecatoryhalflaugh。\"Me——Iwasfondofflowers。Iwouldn’thaveaskednobetterthantoliveamong’em。Mr。Timsongavemeabookortwowhenhislordshipsenthimalotofnewones。I’veboughtafewmyself——thoughIsupposeIcouldn’taffordit。\"
Fromthepoorparsonagehehadgonetoamarketgardener，andhadevidentlylikedtheworkbetter，hardandunceasingasithadbeen，becausehehadbeenamongflowersagain。Suddenchangesfromforcinghousestochilloutsidedampnesshadresultedinrheumatism。Afterthatthingshadgonebadly。Hebegantoberegardedaspasthisprimeofstrength。Lowerwagesandlabourstillashardasever，thoughitprofessedtobelighter，andthereforecheaper。AtlastthebigneglectedgardensofStornham。
\"WhatI’mseeing，miss，allthetime，iswhatcouldbedonewith’em。Wonderfulit’dbe。Theymightbetheshowofthecounty—ifwehadMr。Timsonhere。\"
MissVanderpoel，standinginthesunshineonthebroadweed—grownpathway，wasconsciousthathewasremotelymoving。Hisflowers——hisflowers。Theyhadbeenthecentreofhisrudimentaryruralbeing。Eachmanorwomancaredforsomeonething，andtheunfedlongingforitleftthelifeofthecreatureathwartedpassion。Kedgers，yearningtostirtheearthabouttherootsofbloomingthings，anddoomedtobroccoliandcabbage，hadspenthisyearsunfed。
Nothingisasmallthing。Kedgers，withtheearthunderhisbroadfingernails，andhishalfapologeticlaugh，beingthecentreofhisownworld，wasaslargeasMountDunstan，whostoodthwartedinthecentreofhis。Chancing—forGodknowswhatmysteryofreason—tobebornoneofthosehavingpower，onemightperhapssetinorderaworldlikeKedgers’。
\"Inthecourseoftwentyyears’workunderTimson，\"shesaid，\"youmusthavelearnedagreatdealfromhim。\"
\"Agoodbit，miss—agoodbit，\"admittedKedgers。\"IfIhadn’tha’caredforthework，Imightha’goneondoingitwithmyeyesshut，butIdidn’t。Mr。Timson’sheartwassetonitaswellashishead。An’minegottobe。ButI
wasn’tevensecondorthirdunderhim——Iwasonlyoneofalot。Hewouldhavethoughtmefinean’impidentifI’dtoldhimI’dgottoknowagooddealofwhatheknew——andhadsomebitsofideasofmyown。\"
\"Ifyouhadmenenoughunderyou，andcouldorderallyouwant，\"MissVanderpoelsaidtentatively，\"youknowwhattheplaceshouldbe，nodoubt。\"
\"ThatIdo，miss，\"answeredKedgers，turningredwithfeeling。\"Why，ifthesoilwaswelltreated，anythingwouldgrowhere。There’ssituationsforeverything。There’sshadeforthingsthatwantsit，andsouthaspectsforthingsthatwon’tgrowwithoutthewarmthof’em。Well，I’vegoneaboutmanyadaywhenIwaslowdowninmymindandworkedmyselfuptobeingcheerfulbyjustplanningwhereIcouldputthingsandwhatthey’dlooklike。Liliums，now，IcouldgrowtheminmassesfromJunetoOctober。\"Hewasbecomingexcited，likeawarhorsescentingbattlefromafar，andforgothimself。\"TheLiliumGiganteum——Idon’tknowwhetheryou’veeverseenone，miss——butifyoudid，it’dalmosttakeyourbreathaway。ALiliumthatgrowstwelvefeethighandmore，andhasaflowerlikeagreatsnow—whitetrumpet，andthescentpouringoutofitsothatitfloatsforyards。There’saplacewhereIcouldgrowthemsothatyou’dcomeonthemsudden，andyou’dthinktheycouldn’tbetrue。\"
\"Growthem，Kedgers，begintogrowthem，\"saidMissVanderpoel。\"Ihaveneverseenthem——Imustseethem。\"
Kedgers’low，deprecatorychucklemadeitselfheardagain，\"PerhapsI’mgoingtoofast，\"hesaid。\"Itwouldtakeagoodbitofexpensetodoit，miss。Agoodbit。\"
ThenMissVanderpoelmade——andshemadeitinthesimplestmatter—of—factmanner，too——thestartlingremarkwhich，threehourslater，allStornhamvillagehadheardof。Themostastoundingpartoftheremarkwasthatitwasutteredasiftherewasnothinginitwhichwasnottheabsolutelynaturaloutcomeofthecircumstancesofthecase。
\"Expensewhichisproperandnecessaryneednotbeconsidered，\"shesaid。\"Regularaccountswillbekeptandsupervised，butyoucanhaveallthatisrequired。\"