12 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



The gentlemen from the Bluffs deciding that, after all, 

 there was no real need of going to town, as they had only 

 moved into the country the week previous, and the auto 

 owner challenged to a game of billiards by his friend, 

 they returned home, while the Plotter and Evan walked 

 back two miles to the depot and caught the third train ! 



At home things still sizzled. Father had an important 

 consultation at the hospital at ten; ringing the stable 

 call for the horses, he found that Tim, evidently for- 

 getting the hour, had taken them, Evan's also being of 

 the trio, to the shoer half an hour before. There was a 

 moment's consternation and Bertel left the digging over 

 of my hardy beds to speed down to the village on his 

 bicycle, and when the stanhope finally came up, father 

 was as nearly irritable as I have ever seen him, while 

 Tim Saunders's eyes looked extra small and pointed. 

 Evidently Bertel had said things on his own account, 



Was an explosion coming at last to end twelve years of 

 out-of-door peace, also involving my neighbour and 

 domestic standby, Martha Corkle Saunders? 



No ; the two elderly men glanced at each other ; there 

 was nothing of the domineering or resentful attitude 

 that so often renders difficult the relation of master and 

 man "I must be getting old and forgetful," quoth 

 father, stepping into the gig. 



