A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE 163 



(At the words Garden, You, and I, there flashed 

 through me the thought of some telepathic influence at 

 work.) 



"'The garden's full o' growin' posies that outshames 

 the flower-makers; watch out and see, Anastasia!' 



"Well and I did!! This mornin' early she picks a 

 lot o' them sticky pink flowers by the stoop, the colour 

 o' chiny shells, wid spokes in them like umbrellas, and 

 the thick green leaves, and after leavin' 'em in water a 

 spell, puts 'em in me cold closet, a small bit o' wet moss 

 tied to each stem end wid green sewin' silk ! A piece 

 after dinner out she comes wid the hat that's covered 

 with strong white lace, and she cocks it this way and 

 pinches it that and sews the flowers to it quick wid a 

 big thread and a great splashin' bow on behind, and 

 into the cold box agin ! 



"'That's fer this afternoon,' says she, and before 

 she wore it off (a hat that Eve, mother o' sin, and us all 

 would envy), she'd another ready for the night ! 'Will 

 it spoil now and give yer away, I wonder ?' says I, 

 anxious like. 



"'Not fer two hours, at least; and it'll keep 

 me from stayin' too long ; if I do, it'll wither away and 

 leave me all forlorn, like Cinderella and her pumpkin 

 coach!' she said a-smilin' kind uv to herself in me 



