COMMUTER'S WIFE 349 



both for the pleasure of motion and for ferns to add 

 to the wild garden, Evan toiling home with a well- 

 filled pack like a veritable pedler, while I carry a 

 fishing basket slung over the shoulder to harbour 

 more delicate plants. For alack! a bit of our 

 favourite woods is being stripped of its trees and 

 turned to a quarry, so that now any plants we 

 take cannot be reckoned despoiling, but rather a 

 rescue. 



Martha and Tim were married yesterday at noon 

 in the den, and Evan gave away the bride. Martha 

 would have preferred a church wedding, but the 

 suggestion had such a paralyzing effect upon Tim 

 that she quickly abandoned it, wisely remarking : 



" It may be just as well, Mrs. Evan. I'd not be 

 for pushing a dissenter too far ! " 



I decorated the room with flowers from town, and 

 made a littb bower of the earliest of my potted 

 chrysanthemums. Martha- looked really superb in 

 a black silk gown, Evan's gift, and a reasonably 

 decorative white bonnet of my making, for her 

 taste in headgear is not to be trusted ; while Effie 

 wore a darkish blue that mediated between her 

 fiery hair and freckles. 



The dogs all came to the wedding with white 

 bows on their collars. This at Martha's request, 



