THEIR FORTUNATE ESCAPE 105 



So he set to work on his list then and there, The Man 

 from Everywhere helping, because he can name a plant 

 from its leaves or even the twigs. 



I said that I would write to you at once and ask you or 

 Evan to tell us about the best way to transplant all the 

 wild things, except woody shrubs and trees, because we 

 know it's best to wait for those until leaf fall. But as 

 it turns out, I've waited six days oh ! such aggravat- 

 ing days when there is so much to decide and do ! 



That afternoon The Man rode home with us, as a 

 matter of course, we quite forgetting that instead of 

 late dinner, as usual, the meal would be tea, as the 

 Infant and Maria Maxwell are to dine now at one ! 

 As a shower threatened, it seemed much more natural 

 for us to turn into the house than the camp, and before 

 I knew how it happened I was sitting at the head of my 

 own table serving soup instead of tea ! I dared not look 

 at Maria, but as the meal was nearly ended she remarked 

 demurely, looking out of the west window to where the 

 shower was passing off slantwise, leaving a glorious 

 sunset trail in its wake, " Wouldn't you like to have your 

 coffee in camp, as the rain forced you to take dinner in- 

 doors?" by which I knew that Maria would not allow 

 us to lose sight of our outdoor intentions. 



Bart laughed, and The Man, gazing around the table 



