340 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



if he did not think that he would feel better in 

 bed. 



"I dunno's place has much to do with it," he 

 grumbled; "this can't go on no longer, it's doing for 

 me, that it is!" 



Maria, thinking that he referred to bodily illness, 

 hastened the preparations for bed, and The Man, 

 feeling helpless as all men do when something active 

 is being done in which they have no part, rose to go, 

 and, with his hand on the latch of the porch door, 

 said hi a low voice : " If I might help you in any way, I 

 should be very glad; I do not quite like leaving you 

 alone with this old fellow, you may need help in 

 getting him to bed. Tell me frankly, would you like 

 me to stay?" 



"Frankly I would rather you would not," said 

 Maria, yet hi so cordial a tone that no offence could 

 be gathered from it in any way. 



So the door opened and closed again and Maria 

 began the rather laborious task of coaxing the old man 

 to bed. When once there, the medicine given, and 

 the soup taken, which she could not but notice that he 

 swallowed greedily, she seated herself before the fire, 

 resolving that, if Amos did not feel better by nine 

 o'clock, she would have Barney come over for the 



