134 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



the greenhouse door and caught sight of his fence. 

 But he recovered himself directly. "Ha ! good after- 

 noon, my young friends ! I am most happy to make 

 acquaintance with the the Juvenile Bug, of which 

 you have made Peter Trommel a member ! It is an 

 honor ! Yes." 



The Horticultural Club looked pleased. 



"Now let 's go to Margaret's," said the energetic 

 president ; "that 's the nearest ! " 



"Stop ! " said Mr. Trommel. "Wait but a moment, 

 little one ! I must have straight your Juvenile Bug 

 Society." 



"It is n't Juvenile Bug, Mr. Trommel," corrected 

 Mary ; "we're the Brookside Horticultural Club now." 



"Yes, yes," said Mr. Trommel, nodding impatiently ; 

 "if you are a horticultural society it will not be long 

 before you have to do with the juvenile insects. 

 Which one is this ? " and he fixed inquiring spectacles 

 on Buddy Thomas, who grew suddenly abashed. 



"That's Buddy Vincent Thomas, that is; and 

 that 's Eleanor standing by the fence," said Mary, 

 turning to Buddy's sister, who in her turn was em- 

 barrassed by Mr. Trommel's scrutiny, and thrust first 

 one then the other small brown shoe between the 

 pickets of the fence. 



