THEIR GARDEN VACATION 53 



know was listening; 'then there is nothing for us to 

 do but find you a widow !' 



"'No, that will not do, either; I want born, not 

 acquired, frankness, for that is only another term for 

 expediency,' he replied with emphasis. 



" So you see this Man is not only somewhat difficult, 

 but he has observed ! 



" Last night after dinner, when the men drew their- 

 chairs toward the fire, for we still have one, though 

 the windows are open, and the fragrance from the 

 bed of double English violets, that you sent me, mingled 

 with the wood smoke, we all began to croon comfortably. 

 As soon as he had settled back in the big chair, with 

 closed eyes and finger tips nicely matched, we pro- 

 pounded our conundrum of taking three from two and 

 having four remain. 



" A brief summary of the five years we have lived 

 here will make the needs of the place more clear. 



" The first year, settling ourselves in the house and 

 the arrival of the Infant completely absorbed ourselves, 

 income, and a good bit of savings. Repairing the home 

 filled the second year. The outdoor time and money 

 of the third year was eaten up by an expensive and oblit- 

 erative process called 'grading,' a trap for newly 

 fledged landowners. This meant taking all the kinks 



