90 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



"I think you might tell a fellow," he said, after a 

 few minutes. 



Herr Trommel fixed scrutinizing spectacles on 

 the round face under its thatch of yellow hair ; then 

 he suddenly relented. "I am but a cross old fellow, 

 my lad," he said good-humo redly. "I do not like to 

 be interrupted. We make here a little summer-house ; 

 these are the posts for it. You will not hurt the little 

 garden if I let you come over and see what we do? " 



"I won't hurt a thing," he promised eagerly. 



"You see," said Herr Trommel, affably, "we make 

 it while the little lady is away. We are now ready 

 to put on the laths, to make the lattice. William," 

 he said suddenly, addressing the patient carpenter, 

 "you have that lath slanted too much. I wish the 

 holes in diamond shape not a long, pulled- out 

 diamond. 



"I am no architect, my lad," he said, turning to 

 the spectator, "but I have observed that when a 

 diamond or a circle is pulled out long up and down, 

 it becomes solemn j it has a touch of melancholy- 

 like when you make a long face. Yes. A building 

 that is low and spreading will more probably look 

 cheerful, while one that is squeezed and made very 

 tall may look sad ; at least, I think so." 



