52 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



But the under-gardener was already running to- 

 ward the house. 



Mr. Trommel was still looking meditatively at the 

 sweet-pea trench and then at the fence when Mary 

 came back, packet in hand. "Wait, wait," he said, 

 as she began to tear off the end of the packet. "Let 

 us first see where we shall put them. We shall have 

 nasturtiums along the back of the fence j yes, and 

 the sweet peas we have along the wire ; we must 

 put something in between to keep the peace, 

 Liebchen." 



"Why, what would they do to each other?" asked 

 Mary, fixing a pair of surprised brown eyes on the 

 old man's face. 



"Well," replied Herr Trommel, "it is not that the 

 flowers themselves have any quarrel with each other ; 

 it is only a matter of clothes, Liebchen, but sometimes 

 that is serious. These sweet peas are the dainty pink 

 and white ; they do not like to be so near the bright 

 scarlet of the nasturtiums. Perhaps we might put 

 some of these morning-glories in between, eh? It is 

 yet too early for those, but the border is narrow you 

 can easily reach past. We might plant the poppies in 

 front. They are mixed," said Herr Trommel, sadly j 

 "we cannot help the colors." 



