346 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



that whichsomever of 'em buys it has got ter give me a 

 life right ter live in the summer kitchen and fetch my 

 drinkin' water from the well in the porch ! A lone 

 widder man's a sight helplesser 'n a widder, but yet he 

 don't get no sympathy!" 



The Man from Everywhere began to laugh, and 

 catching Maria's eye she joined him heartily. "How 

 do you mean to manage?" he asked in a way that 

 barred all thought of intrusion. 



"I'm going to have a flower farm and take in two 

 invalids no, not cranks or lunatics, but merely 

 tired people," she added, a little catch coming in her 

 voice. 



"Then you had better begin with me, for I'm pre- 

 cious tired of taking care of myself, and here is Amos 

 also applying, so I do not see but what your establish- 

 ment is already complete!" 



Then, as he saw by her face that the subject was 

 not one for jest, he said, in his hearty way that Mary 

 Penrose likes, "Why not let me buy the place, as 

 mine was the first offer, put it in order, and then 

 lease it to you for three years, with the privilege of 

 buying if you find that your scheme succeeds ? If 

 the house is too small to allow two lone men a room 

 each, I can add a lean-to to match Opie's summer 



