22 8 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



Bart and himself, and the game became hopelessly 

 mixed. 



As for Maria, she as nearly sniffed audibly at the idea 

 as a well-bred woman could. It is strange, I had almost 

 fancied during the course of the past month, and 

 especially this evening, that The Man's glance, when 

 toward her, held a special approval of a different 

 variety than it carried to Bart and me ! If Maria 

 is going to worry him, she shall go back to her flat ! 

 I've often heard Bart say that men's feelings are very 

 woundable at forty, while at twenty-five a hurt closes 

 up like water after a pebble has been dropped in it. 



******* 



Yes, Maria has been rude to The Man, and in my 

 house, too, where she represents me ! Anastasia told 

 me ! I suppose I really ought not to have listened, 

 but it was all over before I realized what she was 

 saying. 



"Yes, mem, for all Miss Marie do be fixed out, so 

 tasty and pleasant like to everybody, and so much 

 chicked up by the country air, she's no notion o' beaus 

 or of troubling wid the men !" 



"What do you mean, Anastasia?" said I, in perfect 

 innocence. " Of course Miss Maria is not a young girl 

 to go gadding about!" 



