350 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



hard landlord!" Then, dropping his guard, he said 

 suddenly, "Why is it that you and I man and 

 woman temperamentally alike, both interested in the 

 same things, and of an age to know what in life is 

 worth while, should stand so aloof? Is there no 

 more human basis upon which I can persuade 

 you to come to Opal Farm when it is mine? Give 

 me a month, three months, lessen the distance 

 you always keep between us, and give me leave to 

 convince you ! Why will you insist upon deliberately 

 keeping up a barrier raised in the beginning when I 

 was too stupidly at home in your cousin's house to 

 see that I might embarrass you? Frankly, do you 

 dislike me?" 



Maria began two different sentences, stumbled, and 

 stopped short; then drawing herself up and looking 

 The Man straight in the face, she said, "I have kept 

 a barrier between us, and deliberately, as you say, 

 but " here she faltered "it was because I found 

 you too interesting; the barrier was to protect my 

 own peace of mind more than to rebuff you." 



"Then I may try to convince you that my plan is 

 best?" 



"Yes," said Maria, with a glint of her mischievous 

 smile, "if you have plenty of time to spare." 



