146 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



"I am not hurting them, Liebchen. I just cut off 

 a few of these great leaves at the bottom j I do not 

 like to do it, but they shade my little things here in 

 front of them. Besides, it will not show ; they will 

 not feel bare or unclad." 



He bent again to his work. "In five ten min- 

 utes I shall come. The lady mother will not mind 

 that I bring my pipe ? No ? It is good for a garden 

 to have a pipe smoked in it." 



"Everything will be ready," declared Mary, "and 

 then you '11 just just watch." 



"The garden looks very fine ! " remarked Mr. 

 Trommel, as he came through the gate, which was 

 none too wide to admit him. "The larkspur will 

 bloom for you soon just one or two spikes ; next 

 year you will have plenty. The young ones are 

 growing well." 



"See ! " said Mary, showing him the seed-bed in 

 the corner. "Look at the little larkspurs and holly- 

 hocks they are coming up ; and then in the fall we 

 move them to where they are to grow, don't we ? " 



"Yes," said Herr Trommel ; then he stooped 

 under the doorway of the little arbor. 



"Now, Liebchen, I shall sit here and smoke my 



