THE CHARM OF GARDENS 



I, if you would come. If you are just walking about 

 for pleasure, perhaps you'd come down as far as that 

 one day and — and, well, sir, it's very humble, but we'd 

 do our best." 



" When shall you be there ? " I said. " Because I 

 want to come very much." 



" I'm going back ; I'm on my way now," he said ; 

 " I always go back two or three times in the summer 

 just to tell her the news. I tell her what's happened, 

 and what flowers they grow where I've been. If you 

 would really come, sir, perhaps you'd come in three 

 weeks from now, if you have nothing better to do. I'd 

 let her know." 



" Then she could tell me the story of the tombstone 

 herself ? " I said. 



It ended at that. He wrote the address for me in my 

 sketch-book, and took his leave of me in characteristic 

 fashion. 



" I hope I'm not taking a liberty," he said, as he 

 jerked his knapsack into a comfortable place between 

 his shoulders. 



" There's nothing I should like better," said I. 



" You'll like the garden," he said as an inducement. 



And this was how I came to hear the story of the 

 " Tailor's Sister's Tombstone." 



34 



