PLANTING IN BOXES 23 



Mr. Trommel 1 ?" and the under-gardener fixed two 

 grave brown eyes on the shining spectacles. 



The old man meditated a moment. "It is 'de- 

 lighted/ " he said ; "it is ' very happy.' In the stories 

 when the fine young man sees the beautiful young 

 princess they say he was ' transported with joy.' " 



"Oh ! " said Mary thoughtfully, "then I will for- 

 give Norah for saying it about you. But but I 

 think we 'd better just start the seeds here." 



"Yes, yes," agreed Herr Trommel; "the three 

 boxes will be all you can well take care of. Let us 

 think. Suppose we take the holly- 

 hocks first ; they have to grow for 

 so long before they can bloom ; it 

 is right to give them the first chance 

 a head start, do you call it ? Yes. 

 And the asters, and the marigolds, 

 yes ? Those sweet peas and the nas- 

 turtiums, they go 'way down deep 

 they will do as well to wait and start 

 outside. The sunflowers also, they do not like to be 

 moved ; they better go outside, too." 



Mr. Trommel pulled one of the boxes toward the 

 edge of the bench, and, with a piece of lath for a 

 ruler and a pointed stick for a pencil, he drew lines 



