said I ought to see you. Her daughter had
talked about you. She thought you needed fresh
air and freedom and running about."

"She knows all about children," Mary said
again in spite of herself.

"She ought to," said Mr. Craven. "I thought
her rather bold to stop me on the moor, but she
said -- Mrs. Craven had been kind to her." It
seemed hard for him to speak his dead wife's
name. "She is a respectable woman. Now I
have seen you I think she said sensible things.
Play out of doors as much as you like. It's a big
place and you may go where you like and amuse
yourself as you like. Is there anything you
want?" as if a sudden thought had struck him.
"Do you want toys, books, dolls?"

"Might I," quavered Mary, "might I have a
bit of earth?"

In her eagerness she did not realize how queer
the words would sound and that they were not the
ones she had meant to say. Mr. Craven looked
quite startled.

"Earth!" he repeated. "What do you
mean?"

"To plant seeds in -- to make things grow -- to
see them come alive," Mary faltered.

He gazed at her a moment and then passed his
hand quickly over his eyes.

[[148]]

p147 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p148w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p149

v?