104 A TOXJR ROUND MY GARDEN. 



but the disagreeable sensation he had felt upon hearing of her 

 visit to Mr. Delarue, warned him that he took more interest 

 in her than he had been aware of. The gardener was preparing 

 the holes for the tulips, when Arnold stopped him, and said, 

 "Do you think a good garden could be made of this yard?" 



"Impossible, Sir; your yard is not larger than my hand." 



" That is true ; I should like, however, to have a beautiful 

 garden." 



" Give me the ground. Sir, and I will soon provide you 

 with that." 



" I have but this yard." 



" Why, then. Sir, don't you buy that large piece of ground 

 which separates Monsieur's house from that of M. Durut, and . 

 which M. Durut wishes to sell ? It is said it can be bought 

 for a mere nothing." 



" Let us look at the piece of ground." 



The enclosure was large; some parts of it even were already 

 planted ; a handsome screen of poplars separated it from the 

 garden of M. Durut. Application was made to the notary; 

 the thing was to be sold cheap. Arnold purchased, paid 

 down the money, and the gardener was set to work. The poor 

 dog, which during three nights had not for one minute 

 ceased howling, was reinstated in the yard. 



"Shall I really have a handsome garden?" frequently asked 

 M. Arnold. 



"Certainly, Sir," replied the gardener; "you shall have 

 such things as are seen nowhere else ; you shall have green 

 roses, black roses, and blue roses." 



" Indeed." 



" Yes, Sir; I have the receipt to make them, in an old book 

 of my father's." 



" And is it very desirable to have green, blue, and black 

 roses?" 



" Yes, Sir ; nobody else has any," 



Arnold never quitted his garden or the gardener; he planted 

 and took up again ; everything must be ready by the follow- 

 ing spring. M. Durut, the vendor of the enclosure, paid him 

 first one visit, then another; and soon, whenever he perceived 

 M. Arnold in his garden he joined him. "Fortunately," thought 

 Arnold, "when the poplars are in leaf, he will not be able to 



