of the biggest standard roses when he caught
sight of something which made him utter an exclamation
of surprise.

"Why!" he cried, pointing to the grass a
few feet away. "Who did that there?"

It was one of Mary's own little clearings round
the pale green points.

"I did it," said Mary.

"Why, I thought tha' didn't know nothin' about
gardenin'," he exclaimed.

"I don't," she answered, "but they were so
little, and the grass was so thick and strong, and
they looked as if they had no room to breathe.
So I made a place for them. I don't even know
what they are."

Dickon went and knelt down by them, smiling
his wide smile.

"Tha' was right," he said. "A gardener
couldn't have told thee better. They'll grow now
like Jack's bean-stalk. They're crocuses an'
snowdrops, an' these here is narcissuses," turning
to another patch, "an' here's daffydowndillys.
Eh! they will be a sight."

He ran from one clearing to another.

"Tha' has done a lot o' work for such a little
wench," he said, looking her over.

"I'm growing fatter," said Mary, "and I'm
growing stronger. I used always to be tired.

[[132]]

p131 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p132w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p133

v?