COMMUTER'S WIFE 319 



our soil at this time they yield only flat, semi- 

 double flowers of poor quality. The hybrid teas are 

 our only satisfactory hardy autumn-blooming roses. 



Dora Penfield has come and gone, staying not one 

 week, but two. In fact, her visit was the cause of 

 my neglect of you, my Garden Boke, during the last 

 half of August. Now I will make up for it by telling 

 you about her, for you are discreet, having ears and 

 no lips. I've felt so pent up and conscious ever since 

 she made me her unwilling confidante ; for though I 

 gave and was asked for no promises of secrecy, I feel 

 a reserve altogether new to me, and that I ought 

 not to tell Evan even, which is very uncomfortable, 

 for he is too wholesomely direct to sympathize. 

 Later I may hint of it to' father, however ; for he 

 must often come in contact with her at the hospital, 

 and may need to understand her peculiar attitude 

 and moods. Why she told me so much about her 

 life I cannot imagine, unless she felt that she must 

 have the relief of speech, and seeing the perfect 

 understanding between Evan and me, thought that 

 I of necessity must sympathize with her. So I do. 

 But no, pity is the word ; for the darkness of her 

 life, father says, as in the case of so many he meets. 



