I 



CHAPTER XVIII 



MARY IN MR. TROMMEL'S GARDEN 

 [June] 



JUST love your garden, Mr. Trommel ! " declared 

 Mary, enthusiastically, her brown head bent over 

 the dainty columbines. "I think it 's nicer than any- 

 body else's garden. Somehow the flowers seem more 

 friendly here, as if they liked to have you come and 

 see them." 



"Perhaps they know we love them, little one. See 

 those tulips and narcissi there at the edge of the bor- 

 der, by the shrubs ? They were done blooming long 

 ago, but this is their home. They know I will not 

 disturb them nor trouble them, or put others in their 

 place. They know I love them all the year round, 

 even when they are curled up in the brown bulb, 

 sound asleep." 



"The columbines are n't asleep. Just see how they 

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