152 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



strawberry-plantation. " We must lose no time. Run, 

 both of you, and bring as many baskets as you can carry. " 



Little thinking how nicely they were sent away, Kate 

 and her brother disappeared towards the house. 



"Now if he should come. No, he will not. It is too 

 early. The clock " 



She paused abruptly. The sound of voices from over 

 the high fence startled her. The air was still, and the 

 approaching twilight served to heighten the effect of sound, 

 and sharpened Mary's unwilling ears. Two shrill female 

 voices, talking in gossipy strain : 



"It's the town talk." 



"Who'd a thought it of them? I would not, and yet 

 Miss Squoggins was a-telling me how her brother bought 

 7 em of the boy. Says he, l They were fine berries, best 

 in the market.' - 



" Sho ! Well, I thought they'd have to come down. 

 They was alwers a stuck-up set, specially that Mary. 

 She's a-setting her cap for the squire's son. Guess he 

 wouldn't go that way much, if he knowed it." 



Here another and less harsh voice broke in : "I don't 

 believe a word of it. And what if they does ? Don't the 

 squire's folks send a can of their extra milk over to the 

 doctor's every morning, and do you think the squire's the 

 man to give his Jersey cream away ? Not he. He has a 

 a price, and gets it, or my name isn't Polly Scrabbins. I 



