332 THE GARDEN OF A 



are more prone to speak of what they dislike, and 

 quietly absorb the likable. One intense August 

 morning that promised a day of the dizzy heat of 

 which the locust sings, I discovered that the flowers 

 picked the day before were drooping and pitiful; so 

 hurrying down the wild walk, I gathered a great 

 handful of ferns, the hay-scented, lady ferns and 

 maidenhair, to which the heavy moisture ef the 

 night still clung, and grouping them hastily in one 

 of my frosted vases, set them on the table at the 

 moment that Evan came in. 



" How did you know that my head aches to-day ? " 

 he asked, as his eyes rested on the bit of wood cool- 

 ness. " Nasturtiums would have positively irritated 

 me this morning; but then, your breakfast flowers 

 are always restful, Barbara." 



So he has recognized it all along ! Dear, blessed, 

 stupid men, why don't you realize what your slight- 

 est word of praise is worth to those who love you ? 

 I've waited quite three months for those few words. 

 By the same token, for it's growing cold this af ter^ 

 noon, I must make haste to gather a great jar of 

 Dahlias and red geraniums with their leaves, to sup- 

 plement the hearth fire we shall have at dinner time, 

 keeping one ruby velvet flower for my hair. 



Effie has brought in the tea, and said, " Mrs. 



