160 THE GARDEN OF A 



I shall readjust and change, but I cannot do it at 

 once. Let us both be patient and help each other 

 for Mr. Evan's sake. 



"You shall have your own allowance of break- 

 fast tea, and the others their oolong, for they, also, 

 have a right of choice ; and to-morrow I will have 

 the little storeroom out of the kitchen cleaned 

 and fitted for a sitting room, with table, lamp, a 

 spare sofa from upstairs, and, perhaps, a sewing- 

 machine, and then it will be against the rule to 

 have sewing in the kitchen. But if you still feel 

 discontented in the spring, I'm sure Mr. Evan 

 will send you home again." 



"I'm not for goin' that far in complaints, Mrs. 

 Evan," she replied, in evident horror at striking 

 her colours or at implied desertion of one of " the 

 family," even if only the youngest son. " And 

 now that you understand me, Mrs. Evan, is con- 

 solin,' and I'll say no more, as the pins is to 



go." 



Exit Martha Corkle. 



The clumping made by her flat, stout, English 

 shoes on the stairs had hardly ceased when it 

 seemed to begin again. Was she returning? 



No, Bluff gave the growl that announced a 

 stranger, who knocked with masculine vigour. 



